President Barack Obama says Twitter accounts might eliminate the need for dedicated phone lines between Russian and US leaders.

In a lighthearted moment Thursday, Obama said that both he and visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev use the popular social networking program.

Obama said "we may be able to finally throw away those red phones" that were designed to allow immediate contact between the Kremlin and the White House during the cold war.

Obama made the remarks at the start of a joint news conference with Medvedev at the White House.

-AP