BURAS, La, June 12 (Reuters) BP Plc's handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was expected to overshadow talks on Saturday between U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
 |
| Thick oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill floats on the surface of the water and coats the marsh wetlands in Bay Jimmy near Port Sulphur, Louisiana, June 11. AFP |
The two leaders will discuss the crisis against the backdrop of public anger and political pressure on both sides of the Atlantic over the spill, which has fouled coastlines, closed rich fishing grounds and battered BP's share price.
BP has been the target of stinging attacks by the White House and its share price has gyrated on London and New York stock exchanges this week. Obama administration officials have threatened to increase BP's liabilities for the spill.
Concerns about the London-based energy giant's future – it faces a U.S. government criminal and civil investigation and the prospect of a slew of lawsuits and hefty fines -- prompted Cameron and his finance minister on Friday to defend the firm.
The British prime minister was quoted by a spokesman as saying after he spoke to BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg that “it is in everyone's interests that BP continues to be a financially strong and stable company.” The backing sent the company's share price soaring seven percent in London.
Cameron, who took office in May, is due to speak to Obama by telephone call at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Saturday.
A Cameron spokeswoman said the call would be “statesmanlike and workmanlike.” A White House official played down the BP focus, saying it would be just one of a number of issues raised.The call will be a tricky test for the two leaders as both are under pressure to appear tough to voters at home.
Obama, criticized by some in the United States over his handling of the unfolding environmental and economic disaster that threatens lucrative fishing and tourist industries, has been seeking to direct public anger toward BP.
How much Oil?
It remains unclear how much oil is pouring into the Gulf, but U.S. scientists this week doubled their estimate of the flow to as much as 40,000 barrels per day, stoking the ire of environmentalists.
Bob Deans of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, said he was shocked by the new estimates.
“We knew it was bad when BP was telling us 5,000 barrels a day. Now that we're up to as much as eight times that amount ... it's exponentially worse,” Deans said outside a wildlife cleaning facility in Buras, Louisiana. |
E-mail
