BP boss 'sorry' to USA

THE boss of BP apologised to America — after US politicians promised to "slice and dice" him over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Chief exec Tony Hayward told a Congressional hearing he was "personally devastated" about the environmental disaster.

And he insisted BP will not rest until the devastating oil leak spewing crude into the Gulf is finally plugged.

Mr Hayward went on: "I understand how serious the situation is - it is a tragedy."

BP would foot the entire clean-up bill, the chief executive said.

"I give my pledge, as the leader of BP, that we will not rest until we make this right. We are a strong company and no resources will be spared."

He said it was still "too early to say" what caused the incident.

But he added: "I'm here today because I have a responsibility to the American people to do my best to explain what BP has done, is doing and will do in the future to respond to this terrible accident."

As he tried to deliver his statement he was heckled by a protester.

The woman - with what appeared to be oil smeared on her face and hands - shouted "You need to go to jail" as Mr Hayward tried to address the committee hearing.

The under-fire BP boss had earlier endured more than an hour-and-a-half of strong criticism directed at both him and his company.

A succession of members of the House of Representatives' Committee on Energy and Commerce attacked the BP boss.

The testimony comes a day after BP agreed to set up a £13.4 BILLION compensation fund for US firms facing ruin because of the leak.

BP also scrapped its shareholder dividend for the first time since the Second World War.

Shares in BP rose eight per cent today a sign of relief that the compensation fund was not BIGGER.

BP has been ripped apart by US politicians since the disaster — and has made a number of staggering PR gaffes.