British Prime Minister David Cameron Tells U.S. Legislators Not To Single Out BP Over Oil Damages

British Prime Minister Tells U.S. Legislators Not To Single Out BP Over Oil Damages

David Cameron yesterday warned US legislators not to pass laws designed to make BP uniquely responsible for the Gulf oil spill, so pushing compensation demands and fines up to levels that the oil giant could not absorb.

Insisting he did not want "a war of words" with America over BP, he said there had been speculation that compensation and fines could rise to as much as $40bn (£26bn).

Speaking on ABC television, he said: "We need to be clear about what BP's responsibility is: cap the well, yes, clear up the mess, yes, make compensation, yes absolutely -- but would it be right to have legislation that independently targets BP rather than other companies? I don't think that would be right."

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