Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Gulf Oil Disaster Reaches 100 Days VOA News 28 July 2010 Members of BP executive team, from left, outgoing CEO Tony Hayward, Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg, and incoming CEO Bob Dudley, in London, 27 Jul 2010 Photo: AP Members of the British Petroleum executive team, from left, outgoing CEO Tony Hayward, Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg, and incoming CEO Bob Dudley, pose for the media outside their global headquarters in London, 27 Jul 2010 It has now been 100 days since an oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, triggering the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. The incoming head of oil giant [1]BP, the company responsible for the clean-up of the disaster, says he does not "underestimate the nature of the task ahead," said Robert Dudley, who will replace Tony Hayward as CEO of BP in October. He says sealing the ruptured oil well permanently is his top priority. BP confirmed Tuesday that Hayward would be stepping down from his post. The announcement was made as the London-based company reported a record loss of $17 billion in the second quarter of the year due to the devastating spill. Hayward has faced strong criticism for BP's handling of the spill. The Washington Post newspaper says U.S. investigators are launching a criminal probe into whether close ties between BP and U.S. federal regulators contributed to the disaster. The newspaper reported Wednesday that the government is assembling a "BP squad" of investigators from the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies to examine such questions as whether the agency charged with regulating the oil industry (the Minerals Management Service) "went easy on" BP in exchange for money or other inducements. The Post says the squad also will examine whether BP officials made false statements to regulators, obstructed justice or falsified test results for devices, such as the rig's failed blowout preventer.  BP says it will sell $30 billion in assets during the next 18 months to cover the costs of the disaster. The costs include a $20-billion fund established to compensate Gulf residents. Hayward said Tuesday he had been "demonized and vilified" as the company's chief representative for the oil disaster. He said life is not fair. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs countered Hayward's statement, saying what is "not fair is the actions of some have caused the greatest environmental disaster" the U.S. has ever seen. Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the official in charge of the U.S. government's oil spill response, says efforts to seal the broken well are focused on pumping heavy mud and then cement into the top of the well. He says that operation should begin August 2. References 1. http://www.bp.com/bodycopyarticle.do?categoryId=1&contentId=7052055 .