Britain-U.S. alliance strong, leaders say

WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- The United States and Britain enjoy a special relationship and Britain is one of America's strongest allies, U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday.

"Great Britain is one of our closest, strongest allies. And there is a link, a bond there that will not break," Obama said during a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "And I think that's true not only on the economic front, but also on issues of common security."

The two leaders discussed the need to coordinate around an economic policy, and Obama said he also thanked the prime minister for Britain's support in Afghanistan.

Brown called the U.S.-Britain relationship "a partnership in purpose" born of shared values.

"And I think it's a partnership of purpose that is driven forward now by the need for us all to work together in unity to deal with the world economic problems," he said.

The prime minister was in the United States a month before a meeting of the Group of 20 industrialized and developing countries in London

"And what we're talking about (Tuesday) is how, by us taking action, Britain and America, we can help other countries join us in making for a more stable and effective financial system," he said.

Despite the stock market plunging to lows not seen since 1997, Obama expressed confidence that the U.S. economy would bounce back.

"What I'm looking at is not the day-to-day gyrations of the stock market," Obama said, "but the long-term ability for the United States and the entire world economy to regain its footing."