By Matthew Bigg

VENICE, La. (Reuters) – Energy giant BP Plc indicated some progress on Monday toward capping the underwater well that ruptured in the Gulf of Mexico almost two weeks ago, pushing a giant oil slick toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The looming ecological and economic disaster has started to fuel high-level opposition to the Obama administration’s push to open more waters to oil drilling to bolster U.S. energy security, as governments question a potentially high toll to oil spills.

VENICE, Louisiana (Reuters) – Energy giant BP Plc was under siege on Monday over the catastrophic oil spill from its ruptured Gulf of Mexico well, as its shares fell and the U.S. government pressed it to try to limit a major environmental disaster.

As a huge oil slick advanced towards the Gulf Coast shoreline, the London-based company came under increasing pressure to do more to stop, or at least control, what is fast turning into the worst oil spillage in U.S. history.

, (Reuters) – Energy giant BP Plc indicated some progress on Monday toward capping the underwater well that ruptured in the Gulf of Mexico almost two weeks ago, pushing a giant oil slick toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The swelling slick, now estimated to be at least 130 miles (208 kilometers) by 70 miles (112 km), or about the size of the state of Delaware, threatens shipping, wildlife, beaches and one of the United States’ most fertile fishing grounds.

VENICE, Louisiana (Reuters) – Energy giant BP Plc <BP.L> , its reputation battered by a catastrophic oil spill threatening the U.S. Gulf shore, said on Monday it was working to stem the gushing undersea leak and promised to pay for the cleanup and compensation claims.

The London-based company has come under heavy criticism and pressure from President Barack Obama and the U.S. public to do more to stop, or at least control, what is fast turning into the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

By Matthew Bigg

VENICE, La. (Reuters) – Energy giant BP Plc, its reputation battered by a catastrophic oil spill threatening the U.S. Gulf shore, said on Monday it was working to stem the gushing undersea leak and promised to pay for the cleanup and compensation claims.

The London-based company has come under heavy criticism and pressure from President Barack Obama and the U.S. public to do more to stop, or at least control, what is fast turning into the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

VENICE, Louisiana (Reuters) – A huge oil slick caused by an underwater leak continued to creep toward the U.S. Gulf Coast on Monday as the Obama administration pressed energy giant BP Plc to stem the oil gushing from its ruptured offshore well.

The direction of the slick has been pushed around by strong winds in the Gulf of Mexico while the likely economic and environmental costs of the accident mounted.

VENICE, Louisiana (Reuters) – A massive oil spill off the Louisiana coast may boost opposition to offshore drilling and spur calls for tighter federal regulation, but it is unlikely to loosen the southern state’s embrace of big oil companies.

The rig explosion and sinking last month that ruptured one of BP’s deepwater wells, spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico, already has led the Obama administration to put on hold a planned limited expansion of oil and gas exploration on the eastern seaboard.

VENICE, Louisiana (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will visit the U.S. Gulf Coast on Sunday to bolster efforts to avert an environmental disaster threatened by a huge, growing oil slick forecasters said was being driven ashore by winds.

The visit, which a White House official said would be on Sunday morning, signaled Obama was anxious to be seen paying close attention to the cleanup and containment of one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history.

By Matthew Bigg

VENICE, La. (Reuters) – Winds pushed a huge oil slick toward the U.S. Gulf shore on Sunday as President Barack Obama’s administration cranked up pressure on BP Plc to halt the uncontrolled, growing spill from its ruptured Gulf of Mexico well.

Obama, seeking to deflect criticism that his government may have been slow in responding to what looks like a major environmental catastrophe, was due to travel this morning to Louisiana, to check on efforts to contain the slick.

By Matthew Bigg

VENICE, La. (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will visit the U.S. Gulf Coast on Sunday as his administration seeks to deflect criticism it could have responded quicker to a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that threatens to become an economic and ecological catastrophe.

Efforts to contain the spill and protect sensitive coastline continued on Saturday, but were limited due to rough seas kicked up by heavy winds, authorities said.