Obama and Cameron discuss security issues

President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have discussed Mideast security issues and the U.S. review of secretive spying programs.

Obama and Cameron spoke by phone Thursday afternoon. The White House says they conferred on efforts to rid Syria of chemical weapons and the peace conference scheduled to open next week. The two also discussed Afghanistan, where the U.S. wants President Hamid Karzai to sign a security deal.

They also discussed peace talks in Northern Ireland that ended without a deal last month despite U.S. envoy Richard Haass' efforts. Cameron's office says Northern Ireland's political leaders are now responsible for finding a way forward.

Obama's update to Cameron on his spying review comes a day before Obama plans to announce changes he's supporting to National Security Agency programs