LONDON - US President Barack Obama invited new British Prime Minister David Cameron to visit the United States in July during a phone call on Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesman said.

Obama's invitation came in a series of phone conversations with world leaders soon after Cameron became premier, including calls from Germany's Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Australia's Kevin Rudd.

The US president "invited the prime minister to visit the United States in July and said he was looking forward to seeing him in June at G8 and G20 meetings," said the spokesman.

The spokesman added that Obama "offered his congratulations to Mr Cameron on his appointment as prime minister."

"They also discussed Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process and Iran," he added.

The White House said Obama told Cameron "the United States has no closer friend and ally than the United Kingdom, and I reiterated my deep and personal commitment to the special relationship between our two countries -- a bond that has endured for generations and across party lines."

Obama said that relationship was "essential to the security and prosperity of our two countries, and the world".

As well as the congratulatory calls from Britain's main European partners, Cameron was also contacted by the country's Commonwealth partners.

Australian prime minister Rudd and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper "both offered their congratulations to Mr Cameron on his appointment as Prime Minister," the Downing Street spokesman said.

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