Americas

Home page

Americas

Obama promises ’every resource’ to oil spill towns

05 June 2010 19:56 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. US President Barack Obama has pledged to use "every resource" available to clean shores and help those affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, APA reports quoting BBC News.
In his weekly address, Mr Obama said that BP appeared to be "making progress" in containing the leak after placing a cap over the well.
But the company’s latest effort, even if successful, will only stop some of the leak.
Mr Obama has faced mounting criticism for his handling of the crisis.
Correspondents say that, as the political fall-out has increased, the president’s tone has become stronger, saying earlier in the week that he was "furious" with how the issue has been managed.
In his address, broadcast from Grand Isle, Louisiana, Mr Obama said he had spoken to local residents who were angry not only about the money lost, but also about the potential loss of their entire livelihoods.
"We will continue to leverage every resource at our disposal to protect coastlines, to clean up the oil, to hold BP and other companies accountable for damages, to begin to restore the bounty and beauty of this region - and to aid the hardworking people of the Gulf as they rebuild their businesses and communities," he said.
’Every dime’
Four states have so far been affected by the spill - Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Mr Obama pledged to stand with the residents of Louisiana unitil they are "made whole".
"They meet their responsibilities. But now because of a manmade catastrophe - one that’s not their fault and that’s beyond their control - their lives have been thrown into turmoil," he said.
After a procedure known as "top kill" failed a week ago, BP has began a new attempt to stem the oil, which involves a lower marine riser package (LRMP) cap being put over the well to contain the leak.
Mr Obama also reiterated a commitment to ensure that BP was financially accountable for the damaged caused.
"We will make sure they pay every single dime owed to the people along the Gulf coast," he said.