Bush, Putin avow mutual understanding, tackle arms in N. Korea, Iran.(The Dallas Morning News)

Byline: David Jackson

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia _ President Bush and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin sought Sunday to jump-start their "strategic partnership," which had stalled over Putin's objections to the war in Iraq.

Holding their first summit since the invasion, the two leaders agreed to help rebuild Iraq and work to keep nuclear weapons away from North Korea and Iran, though the latter subject provoked something of a disagreement.

As the United States pressures Russia to stop helping Iran construct a nuclear reactor, Putin said U.S. allegations that Iran would use the plant to develop nuclear weapons should not wind up hurting Russian businesses that only want to supply the country with electricity. Still, the presidents said their relationship _ which analysts warn still faces many potential obstacles _ is as solid as ever.

"I must say that the fundamentals between the United States and Russia turned out to be stronger than the forces and events that tested it," Putin said after talks with Bush at a castle built by Peter the Great.

Bush added: "As we go forward, we will show the world that friends can disagree, move beyond disagreement and work in a very constructive and important way to maintain the peace."

Before jetting to the French Alps for meetings with other leaders of the Group of Eight nations, Bush and Putin signed the nuclear arms reduction treaty they negotiated last year and issued a statement in which they reaffirmed `our nations' partnership."