"Fillon made clear it had not been his intentiontocall into question the UK's rating but to highlight that ratings agencies appeared more focused on economic governance than deficit levels, " the spokesman said.
President Obama concluded the call by conveying his intentionto visit Pakistan in 2011 and personally welcomed President Zardari to visit the United States in the coming year.
The airline argued that Unite had not polled its members correctly: some votes were recorded from people no longer employed by BA, and the call for industrial action did not specify the intentionto strike for 12 consecutive days precisely at Christmas.