2nd UPDATE: UK's Cameron Understands Frustration Over BP Spill

(Adds comments from Cameron and Obama on Afghanistan and Israel.) By Jared A. Favole Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, flanked by President Barack Obama, on Tuesday said it was unnecessary for Britain to investigate the Scottish government's decision last year to release the convicted Lockerbie bomber. "I don't need an inquiry to tell me what was a bad decision. It was a bad decision," Cameron said at a press conference during his first official visit to the White House. Cameron said, however, he directed his cabinet secretary to see if more information about the case should be released. Cameron and Obama repeatedly condemned the Scottish government's release last year of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi to Libya. Cameron called Megrahi the "biggest mass murderer" in U.K. history. Cameron brushed aside questions about British-oil giant BP Plc's (BP, BP.LN) role in the release of Megrahi, saying that is for the company to answer. He added, "I haven't seen anything to suggest that Scottish" government was swayed at all by BP lobbying. The Lockerbie bomber release was one of two hot-button issues the two leaders discussed. The other was the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which Cameron labeled a "catastrophe." Cameron said the oil company should "rightly be blamed" for the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. He said he understands that America is frustrated with the company, but that it's in the interest of both the U.S. and the U.K. that the company remain viable. "I completely understand the anger that exists right across America," he said. He added, "The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a catastrophe, for the environment, for the fishing industry, for tourism." BP is taking steps to cap the well and pay for damages done to people who rely on the Gulf, Cameron said. The world leaders also discussed Afghanistan, where the U.K. and U.S. have troops, and stressed their strong relationship. "In short the United States has no closer ally and stronger partner then Great Britain," Obama said. They said the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan shows how close relations are between the two countries. "There is no clearer, no more tangible illustration of Britain and America standing shoulder to shoulder in our national interest than this mission that we are engaged in together," Cameron said. He added, "We have British troops working to an American commander in Helmand, and we have American troops working to a British commander in Kandahar." Cameron said he and Obama also discussed Middle East Peace. Cameron said it's time for direct talks on a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians. -By Jared A. Favole, Dow Jones Newswires; 202.862.9256; jared.favole@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 20, 2010 15:59 ET (19:59 GMT)