Spokesman Scott McClellan declined to explicitly confirm a report in The Australian newspaper that the United States and Australia had crafted an accord meant to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which both nations have repudiated.

"I do expect that you'll be hearing more out of the region later, and I think we may have some more information that we'll be able to get into with you later, as well," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

The secret negotiations on a new international climate agreement have also involved China, India and South Korea, according to The Australian.

"You've heard the president talk about how we have been working in partnership with countries around the world to promote cleaner energy and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and that is something we have continued to move forward on," he said.

"In terms of the specific announcement that you're talking about, I've seen some media reports," said McClellan. "But I'm not going to make the announcement ahead of anything that's going to be coming out of there first."

Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell confirmed that the United States and Australia had been secretly negotiating and that details of the international deal as well as the countries involved would be announced soon.

"The countries that are involved in any future proposal will be announced when we announce the details of the proposal," Campbell told reporters, adding that this would be "in the very near future".

"Australia is, and I reassure the Australian people, working on something that is more effective post-Kyoto," Campbell said.

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