US President Barack Obama has ordered a tripling of manpower in coastal areas where oil has washed ashore or threatens to within 24 hours.

Speaking on a tour of oil-hit areas, Mr Obama said the US would "do whatever it takes" to help people whose lives had been affected by the disaster.

He said the outcome of the "top kill" procedure to seal the leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico was not yet known.

But scientists were working on a back-up plan in case it failed, he said.

Earlier, BP's chief executive Tony Hayward said the outcome of the process would not be clear for another 48 hours.

But Mr Hayward said the "top kill" effort - untested before at this depth of 5,000ft (1.5km) - was "going pretty well according to plan".
It looks like Obama is doing his best to get on and top of this and show Americans who is boss and who is responsible for fixing this crisis. My prayers are with the people of the Gulf, and I hope that the oil spill is resolved as quickly as possible.