BP Plc's handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is likely to dominate talks on Saturday between U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron, according to Reuters. The leaders will discuss the crisis against a 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. BP said it was considering suspending its dividend payments after U.S. politicians said it should pay all damage claims before making payouts to shareholders. BP accounts for around 12 percent of all dividend payouts made by British companies, and suspension would hit British pension funds hard. BP said the company's board would meet on Monday to discuss a range of issues -- it has been meeting weekly since the crisis started. However, a source said a decision on the dividend may not be made until after BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg has met Obama on Wednesday. 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 speaking to Svanberg that "it is in everyone's interests that BP continues to be a financially strong and stable company". The political backing helped the company's share price to claw back 7 percent in London. -- SPA
