Obama calls Morsi, commends Gaza truce efforts

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama called Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi for the third time in 24 hours on Tuesday and “commended” his efforts to secure a truce in Gaza, the White House said. “He commended President Morsi’s efforts to pursue a de-escalation” in the Gaza Strip, deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling home from Asia with Obama during a stopover in Japan.