Obama frustrated by oil leak progress

Obama frustrated by oil leak progress

By North America correspondent Lisa Millar, of ABC.net.au


Potentially catastrophic: A clean-up team follows a trail of oil debris on the shoreline of Raccoon Island, Louisiana

US president Barack Obama is frustrated that the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico has not been plugged and says the government is preparing to handle a potentially catastrophic event.

He says it is still unclear just how much oil is leaking into the gulf, but he will not rest until it is stopped and the damage cleaned up.

Mr Obama also blasted the bosses of British Petroleum, describing as a "ridiculous spectacle" their appearance on Capitol Hill this week to answer questions about the spill.

"The American people could not have been impressed with that display and I certainly wasn't," he said.

"What really matters is this: there's oil leaking and we need to stop it and we need to stop it as soon as possible."

"The American people could not have been impressed with that display and I certainly wasn't," he said.

He also announced a review of environmental safeguards for oil and gas exploration, saying the relationship between the companies and the government watchdog has been too cosy.