US releases oil
Published:Thursday | June 23, 2011 | 3:05 PM
The US government says it plans to release 30 million barrels of oil from its strategic petroleum reserve as part of a global effort to reduce disruption to oil supplies.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu says the release of oil is in response to supply disruptions caused by unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.
Officials say the US reserve is currently at a historically high level.
US fuel prices have risen steeply during 2011, increasing domestic pressure on President Barack Obama.