Cameron rebuffs US, says no new inquiry on bomber
Thursday, 22 July 2010
WASHINGTON, July 21 (AP): British Prime Minister David Cameron was trying to shift the focus of his US visit to Afghanistan Wednesday, but hard feelings lingered after he turned aside calls for a fresh investigation into whether oil giant BP swayed Scotland's decision to release the Lockerbie bomber.
Cameron planned to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery before heading to the Pentagon for briefings on military operations in Afghanistan.
Britain has the most troops serving in Afghanistan of any NATO nation after the United States. But Cameron has said he wants his country's 10,000 troops out by the time of Britain's next election, which must be held by 2015.
Cameron was later scheduled to travel by train to New York to meet with senior US business leaders about prospects for increased trade and investment. He also will hold talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and attend a dinner hosted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg before flying back to Britain.
Cameron planned to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery before heading to the Pentagon for briefings on military operations in Afghanistan.
Britain has the most troops serving in Afghanistan of any NATO nation after the United States. But Cameron has said he wants his country's 10,000 troops out by the time of Britain's next election, which must be held by 2015.
Cameron was later scheduled to travel by train to New York to meet with senior US business leaders about prospects for increased trade and investment. He also will hold talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and attend a dinner hosted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg before flying back to Britain.