President Barack Obama chose a former Justice Department official on Tuesday to reform the Minerals Management Service, an agency blamed for lax regulation of offshore drilling ahead of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

President Barack Obama chose Michael Bromwich on Tuesday to lead reform at the Minerals Management Service, an agency that has been blamed for lax regulation of offshore drilling ahead of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

President Barack Obama will make a high-stakes address to the nation on Tuesday night seeking to restore public confidence in his handling of BP Plc's Gulf of Mexico oil spill and drive forward his ambitious plans to cut U.S. dependence on fossil fuels.

Barack Obama has compared the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to the September 11 terrorist attacks as he began a tour of the region.

Barack Obama and top BP executives are set for a showdown over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill this week, as the likely damages bill piles more pressure on the oil giant's shares.