Obama calls purported IRS targeting 'outrageous'

WASHINGTON--Facing a wall of outrage from GOP lawmakers over revelations that the Internal Revenue Service targeted "tea party" groups and non-profit organizations that criticized the government. President Obama on Monday called the actions by agency personnel "outrageous" and said "there is no place for it."

The president, who appeared alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday, weighed in on the IRS controversy for the first time and attempted to head off snowballing criticism from Republican lawmakers that the president hadn't personally condemned the agency's targeting of conservative political groups for extra scrutiny.

Obama said he first learned about the IRS targeting from news reports on Friday. He said those responsible for the practice should be held "fully accountable."