Salazar: Those responsible for Gulf of Mexico oil spill will be held accountable

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Salazar: Accountability needed for oil spill

NEW ORLEANS — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says those responsible for a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will be held accountable.

Federal officials are investigating what caused an oil rig to explode and sink in the gulf, killing 11 people. More than 100 people escaped the blast, but an oil sheen has already reached Louisiana coastline.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said at the same news conference Friday that officials are doing everything they can to protect the state’s fragile coastline from the oil slick, which is growing as oil spews from the seabed.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the federal government will continue to push BP PLC, which operated the rig, for a strong response to the spill.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says those responsible for a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will be held accountable.

Federal officials are investigating what caused an oil rig to explode and sink in the gulf, killing 11 people. More than 100 people escaped the blast, but an oil sheen has already reached Louisiana coastline.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said at the same news conference Friday that officials are doing everything they can to protect the state’s fragile coastline from the oil slick, which is growing as oil spews from the seabed.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the federal government will continue to push BP PLC, which owned the rig, for a strong response to the spill.

Eds: APNewsNow. CORRECTS that BP operated the rig. Multimedia: An interactive on the oil rig accident and subsequent environmental threat is available, —national/oil_rig_accidents. Moving on general news and financial services. AP Video.