It's clear "top kill" has not worked: Obama

President Barack Obama said on Saturday that authorities would pursue all "responsible" ways to plug a leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico now that it was clear that BP's "top kill" attempt had not worked.

President Barack Obama said on Saturday that authorities would pursue all "responsible" ways to plug a leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico now that it was clear that BP's "top kill" attempt had not worked.

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"While we initially received optimistic reports about the (top kill) procedure, it is now clear that it has not worked," Obama said in a statement. "Rear Admiral Mary Landry today directed BP to launch a new procedure whereby the riser pipe will be cut and a containment structure fitted over the leak."

He said the new attempt to plug the leak would be difficult and take several days and that it was not activated until now because it posed risks and had never been attempted before at the depth of the BP spill.