Obama to appoint commission to probe oil spill
Washington AFP
The commission, similar to other presidential-ordered probes into civilian disasters, will be established by executive order, the official said on condition of anonymity.
Reports said that the commission will be officially unveiled in the next few days, and will supplement existing government inquiries into the disaster sparked by an explosion aboard a drilling rig last month.
Obama has gradually ratcheted up criticism of BP over the spill of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf in an unfolding ecological disaster, betraying more and more frustration over the company's failure to stop the leak.
A visibly angered president on Friday hit out at oil companies for trying to avoid blame over a massive slick, and vowed an all-out effort to stop the leak pouring into the Gulf of Mexico.
"I will not tolerate more finger-pointing or irresponsibility. The people of the Gulf Coast need our help," Obama said, as he also unveiled a review of the environmental safeguards to be put in place for oil and gas exploration.
He slammed the three oil companies linked to the Deepwater Horizon rig -- BP, Transocean and Halliburton -- for seeking to pass the blame, denouncing what he called a "ridiculous spectacle" by their top officials during congressional hearings.
He also accused oil companies of enjoying a "cozy relationship" with federal agencies set up to monitor the energy sector.