U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen says oil company BP has made some progress in containing the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, but more needs to be done.
Admiral Allen spoke in televised interviews Sunday. He said he does not think anyone should be pleased as long as there is oil in the water.
Also Sunday, BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward said he will not step down from his position because of the oil leak and the company's highly criticized response effort.
In an interview with BBC television, Hayward said BP officials plan to see the crisis through to the end, and he thinks the oil company will be able to recover from the disaster.
Hayward said a containment cap placed on the blown-out well in the Gulf is collecting 10,000 barrels of oil a day. He said the company hopes a second containment system will be in place this week.
BP officials say about 19,000 barrels of oil are leaking every day from the blown well. Estimates vary about the total volume of oil spilled since the rig exploded on April 20.
U.S. President Barack Obama says the leak will not stop until BP finishes drilling relief wells, which are expected to be ready in August.
The enormous spill has spread throughout the Gulf of Mexico, covering birds and other wildlife, and threatens to devastate the region's fishing industry.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
