Criticism of BP not anti-British, Obama tells David Cameron

US president Barack Obama Saturday told British premier David Cameron that his frustration with BP Plc over 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, the British government said.

During the 30-minute phone conversation, Obama reaffirmed his "deep commitment to the special and historic relationship" between the two countries, the White House said in a statement.

Cameron is to make his first official visit to Washington on July 20, but the two will meet at the G20 summit in Canada later this month.

Cameron expressed his "sadness" at the ongoing human and ecological damage in the gulf following an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20.

The prime minister's office described Saturday's conversation as "warm and constructive" and said Cameron stressed the importance of BP to the economy of not only the United Kingdom but also the United States and other countries.

The White House said they also discussed the conflict in Afghanistan and Cameron's recent visit there, as well as the latest sanctions on Iran.