US will end cozy ties with oil drillers: Obama

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama says he will end a cozy relationship that has existed between federal regulators and companies drilling offshore for oil and gas.

Obama said Friday that a lack of vigilant oversight contributed to the BP oil rig explosion that led to large amounts of oil pouring into the Gulf of Mexico. He said federal regulators sometimes have approved drilling plans based on the oil companies promising to use safe practices.

He said the rule from now on will be ``trust but verify.'' He made his comments at the White House after discussing the gulf spill with Cabinet members.