Ships set to leave oil spill region as storm approaches

BP engineers in the Gulf of Mexico said they will leave the leaky cap fixed to its well head closed as key ships stationed over the site were ordered to evacuate today as Tropical Storm Bonnie loomed.

Bonnie, which blossomed over the Bahamas and will enter the Gulf of Mexico by the weekend, could delay by another 12 days the push to plug the broken well for good using mud and cement, retired US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen and BP officials admitted.