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Spill 'will not harm' UK-US ties Spill 'will not harm' UK-US ties
(about 1 hour later)
The spill is believed to be America's worst environmental disasterThe spill is believed to be America's worst environmental disaster
Bilateral ties will not be damaged by the continuing oil spill from a BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico, the UK and US governments say.Bilateral ties will not be damaged by the continuing oil spill from a BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico, the UK and US governments say.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would discuss the crisis with President Barack Obama this weekend, and that London "stands ready to help". British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would discuss the crisis with US President Barack Obama this weekend.
The US state department said the spill was not a source of tension between the two nations. The US state department denied suggestions that the spill was a source of tension between the two nations.
The comments come after Mr Obama's increasingly outspoken criticism of BP. Meanwhile, US scientists said as many as 40,000 barrels a day may have been gushing out, doubling their estimates.
His administration has been steadily applying more pressure on the oil giant, with reports that the US justice department is considering legal action to ensure BP pays damages and compensation to those affected. The researchers from the government-backed US Geological Survey said that the daily flow rate could have been between 20,000 and 40,000 barrels (840,000 - 1.7m gallons) before 3 June.
Since then BP has been able to contain some of the oil with a capping device.
BP said the device placed on the blown-out well collected 15,800 barrels of oil on Wednesday - slightly up on the 15,010 barrels collected in the previous 24-hour period.
Oil has been leaking into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on 20 April and sank off the coast of the US state of Louisiana, killing the 11 workers.Oil has been leaking into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on 20 April and sank off the coast of the US state of Louisiana, killing the 11 workers.
'Lack of integrity''Lack of integrity'
In the latest move, the administration announced that the chairman of BP, Carl-Henric Svanberg, has been asked to meet Mr Obama and the officer in charge of the relief effort, Adm Thad Allen, at the White House next Wednesday.In the latest move, the administration announced that the chairman of BP, Carl-Henric Svanberg, has been asked to meet Mr Obama and the officer in charge of the relief effort, Adm Thad Allen, at the White House next Wednesday.
Earlier, US Attorney General Eric Holder has warned that America would "not pay a dime" for cleaning up and that BP would be held responsible for all damages.Earlier, US Attorney General Eric Holder has warned that America would "not pay a dime" for cleaning up and that BP would be held responsible for all damages.
And the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, accused BP of a "lack of integrity" over its approach to the spill.And the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, accused BP of a "lack of integrity" over its approach to the spill.
Ms Pelosi is among a number of US politicians who have suggested that BP should be forced to suspend dividend payments until it is clear the company has enough cash to cover all possible compensation claims.Ms Pelosi is among a number of US politicians who have suggested that BP should be forced to suspend dividend payments until it is clear the company has enough cash to cover all possible compensation claims.
That has raised concerns in the UK, where BP's dividends form a crucial part of pension funds for millions of Britons. The sharp criticism from the US has been described by some UK politicians as growing anti-British rhetoric.That has raised concerns in the UK, where BP's dividends form a crucial part of pension funds for millions of Britons. The sharp criticism from the US has been described by some UK politicians as growing anti-British rhetoric.
On the markets BP's shares closed down 6% in London on Thursday, having earlier been as much as 12% down.On the markets BP's shares closed down 6% in London on Thursday, having earlier been as much as 12% down.
'Mitigating effects''Mitigating effects'
Speaking on Thursday during a visit to Afghanistan, Mr Cameron described the spill as "an environmental catastrophe".Speaking on Thursday during a visit to Afghanistan, Mr Cameron described the spill as "an environmental catastrophe".
The fact that Mr Hayward is not American has probably made him all the more irritating to his US audienceThe fact that Mr Hayward is not American has probably made him all the more irritating to his US audience
Mark Mardell BBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in fullMark Mardell BBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full
"BP needs to do everything it can to deal with the situation, and the UK government stands ready to help," he said."BP needs to do everything it can to deal with the situation, and the UK government stands ready to help," he said.
"I completely understand the US government's frustration. The most important thing is to try to mitigate the effects and get to grips with the problem. It's something I will discuss with the American president when we next talk""I completely understand the US government's frustration. The most important thing is to try to mitigate the effects and get to grips with the problem. It's something I will discuss with the American president when we next talk"
In Washington, US state department spokesman PJ Crowley said the spill was a matter between the US and BP, not the UK.In Washington, US state department spokesman PJ Crowley said the spill was a matter between the US and BP, not the UK.
"BP is a private company and this is about the impact of a tragedy in terms of the explosion of the oil platform and the resulting oil spill," he told reporters."BP is a private company and this is about the impact of a tragedy in terms of the explosion of the oil platform and the resulting oil spill," he told reporters.
"This is not about relations between the United States and its closest ally.""This is not about relations between the United States and its closest ally."
The comments come after Mr Obama's increasingly outspoken criticism of BP.
His administration has been steadily applying more pressure on the oil giant, with reports that the US justice department is considering legal action to ensure BP pays damages and compensation to those affected.
Testy though relations between the US government and BP have become, the oil spill has yet to mar the so-called "special relationship" between America and Britain, says the BBC's David Willis in WashingtonTesty though relations between the US government and BP have become, the oil spill has yet to mar the so-called "special relationship" between America and Britain, says the BBC's David Willis in Washington
'Pressing concern''Pressing concern'
Also On Thursday, Mr Obama met relatives of the 11 workers killed in the explosion that sank the BP oil platform in April.Also On Thursday, Mr Obama met relatives of the 11 workers killed in the explosion that sank the BP oil platform in April.
Mr Obama, who has himself come under mounting political pressure over his handling of the crisis, held the meeting at the White House.Mr Obama, who has himself come under mounting political pressure over his handling of the crisis, held the meeting at the White House.
One man whose son was among the dead said the president had told the families he would not forget about them. Keith Jones, a lawyer from Louisiana, described the meeting as a "very positive experience".One man whose son was among the dead said the president had told the families he would not forget about them. Keith Jones, a lawyer from Louisiana, described the meeting as a "very positive experience".
Mr Jones said Mr Obama had played with his four-week-old grandson, whose father Gordon was an engineer on the oil rig.Mr Jones said Mr Obama had played with his four-week-old grandson, whose father Gordon was an engineer on the oil rig.
Amid growing public anger in the US, Mr Obama is keen to show he is on top of the situation and will make a fourth visit to the region on Monday.Amid growing public anger in the US, Mr Obama is keen to show he is on top of the situation and will make a fourth visit to the region on Monday.
At relief headquarters, officials said an understanding on speeding up the payment of compensation claims had been reached at a meeting with senior BP executives.At relief headquarters, officials said an understanding on speeding up the payment of compensation claims had been reached at a meeting with senior BP executives.
Administration officials had raised a "pressing concern" about the time BP was taking to provide relief payments, particularly to businesses in the stricken area, one official said.Administration officials had raised a "pressing concern" about the time BP was taking to provide relief payments, particularly to businesses in the stricken area, one official said.

Attempt to cap oil leak

The latest stage in BP's efforts to contain leaking oil has involved lowering a cap onto the failed blowout preventer (BOP) valve system on the seabed. The cap sits on the BOP's lower marine riser package (LMRP) section.
First, the damaged riser - the pipe which takes oil from the well - was cut where it nears the seabed using a remotely-operated shear. This was completed at 1930 CDT on 1 June (0030 GMT 2 June).
The next stage was for a diamond wire cutter to saw through the riser close to the LMRP. The blade got stuck and had to be removed but BP eventually cut through the pipe using giant shears manipulated by undersea robots (ROV).
After removing the pipe, the cap was lowered onto the LMRP enabling the leaking oil and gas to be funnelled to a drill ship on the surface. Latest estimates suggest more than half of the leaking oil is now being captured.
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Attempt to cap oil leak

The latest stage in BP's efforts to contain leaking oil has involved lowering a cap onto the failed blowout preventer (BOP) valve system on the seabed. The cap sits on the BOP's lower marine riser package (LMRP) section.
First, the damaged riser - the pipe which takes oil from the well - was cut where it nears the seabed using a remotely-operated shear. This was completed at 1930 CDT on 1 June (0030 GMT 2 June).
The next stage was for a diamond wire cutter to saw through the riser close to the LMRP. The blade got stuck and had to be removed but BP eventually cut through the pipe using giant shears manipulated by undersea robots (ROV).
After removing the pipe, the cap was lowered onto the LMRP enabling the leaking oil and gas to be funnelled to a drill ship on the surface. Latest estimates suggest more than half of the leaking oil is now being captured.
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