US President Barack Obama Wednesday launched an effort to repair ties with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after a diplomatic crisis provoked by revelations of US eavesdropping on her mobile phone.

US President Barack Obama Wednesday launched an effort to repair ties with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after a diplomatic crisis provoked by revelations of US eavesdropping on her mobile phone.

Obama called Merkel to wish her a speedy recovery after her recent skiing injury and invited her to visit Washington at a "mutually agreeable time in the coming months," the White House said in a statement.