Obama to discuss oil spill with British prime minister as tensions rise over criticism of BP

more images

more images

Obama, Britain’s Cameron to talk about oil spill

WASHINGTON — With a British company the villain, the Gulf oil spill is raising tensions on both sides of the Atlantic.

President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron plan to discuss the environmental catastrophe Saturday by telephone. They hope to ease what has become a growing rift between the two countries over the criticism of the well’s owner, BP PLC.

As BP struggles unsuccessfully to halt the gushing oil that is bringing environmental chaos to the Gulf Coast, Obama has sharpened his criticism of the British company.

The rhetoric has caused a backlash in Britain, where BP is viewed as one of the country’s corporate pillars. Cameron is trying to find a middle ground.