USA, May 27, 2010: US President Barack Obama is set to extend a moratorium on deep water offshore drilling for six months, the White House says.

The move comes as his administration faces criticism of its handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The ban will stay in place while a commission further investigates the circumstances of the spill.

BP says its latest effort to stem the flow of oil from the well after a rig explosion is going to plan.

Thousands of barrels of oil have been spewing into the Gulf at a depth of 1.6km (1 mile) every day since April’s explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.