From Deutsche Welle:  US President Barack Obama assured British Prime Minister David Cameron in a telephone conversation on Saturday that his criticism of BP’s handling of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is not about national identity.

US President Barack Obama told British Prime Minister David Cameron on Saturday that his frustration over BP’s handling of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had "nothing to do with national identity," and that he had no interest in undermining BP’s value, according to a statement from Cameron’s office.

During a 30-minute telephone conversation, Obama, who said last week he wants to know "whose ass to kick", reaffirmed America’s "deep commitment to the special and historic relationship" between the US and the UK.

But, Obama also made it clear that he expects BP to pay for the clean-up costs and meet economic claims from the spill.

Cameron, who described the conversation as "warm and constructive", stressed the importance of BP to the British and other economies, after he came under pressure at home to defend the economic heavyweight.

On Friday he said that "it is in everyone’s interests that BP continues to be a financially strong and stable company". (photo: White House)

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