Abbott and Obama discuss Iraq, Ebola

Tony Abbott has discussed the situation in Iraq with the US president.

The prime minister's office said in a statement that the two leaders spoke for about half an hour on Wednesday.

Mr Abbott and Barack Obama also discussed the Ebola epidemic and the upcoming G20 summit in Brisbane.

Mr Obama thanked Australia for its efforts in Iraq and its continued commitment to disrupting and degrading the Islamic State group.

They agreed that the international community needed to act swiftly to arrest the Ebola epidemic and Mr Obama thanked the PM for Australia's contribution to date.

Mr Abbott said he was looking forward to welcoming the US president to Brisbane in November for the G20.