Oil spill nears Florida

A sheen of oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill is reportedly nearing the white sand beaches of northwest Florida.



Officials say a sheen containing thousands of tar balls had been seen nine miles (15 kilometres) from Pensacola on the Florida \"panhandle\".



Meanwhile, BP\'s efforts to cap the leaking well hit a snag as a saw became stuck in a thick pipe on the sea bed.



The company\'s is attempting to contain the spill from the well by cutting off the fractured pipe and sealing it with a cap.



Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen says crews are shooting chemical dispersants at the oil now leaking out of the new cut, and hope to make another attempt on the pipe later today.

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