Obama says Europe's debt crisis must be contained

President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed that Europe's debt crisis must be contained.

In their talks at the White House, the two leaders were in agreement that the euro zone strains cannot be allowed to put the global economic recovery at risk, Obama told a joint news conference.

Obama has previously cited the euro zone crisis as one in a handful of foreign headwinds affecting the U.S. economy, which is showing signs of slowing of next year's elections.

(Editing by Will Dunham)