Brit PM urges Danish PM to save selfie

British PM David Cameron has launched a personal bid to savethe controversial selfie photo of him with US President Barack Obama and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning -- Schmidt.

Click and shoot: The selfie taken by Danish PM Helle Thorning - Schmidt with British PM and the US President was criticised. File Pic

The picture was taken by the Dane during the memorial service for Nelson Mandela last week and led to accusations of insensitivity and bad taste.

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Thorning-Schmidt was ready to destroy the image after being embarrassed over the furore but Cameron has stepped in and urged it to be auctioned off for charity instead.

It is understood the Prime Minister told his Danish counterpart it could raise a substantial amount of money during a private conversation last week.

A source said, "Helle wanted to delete it but Cameron urged her not to. He pointed out that it could raise a lot of money." Cameron has already defended taking part in the selfie saying it was "only polite to say yes" when Thorning-Schmidt asked him.

The Danish PM said last week that it was not inappropriate and was just "a bit of fun".

"It wasn't inappropriate," she said. She added, "There were lotsof pictures taken that day, and I just thought it was a bit fun. Maybe it also shows that when we meet heads of state and government, we too are just people who have fun. There was a sadness, but it was basically a festive event that also celebrated a man who has lived for 95 years and achieved so much in his life."

Downing Street has not denied the conversation between the two prime ministers but has refused to elaborate.u00a0