U.S. Gulf demands BP, govt do more to halt oil spill

VENICE, La. (Reuters) - U.S. Gulf Coast residents and authorities clamoured on Sunday for BP and the federal government to do more to save their coast from oil pollution after the energy giant failed in a deepwater bid to halt the worst ever U.S. oil spill.

The failure of the so-called "top kill" technique to seal the leaking Gulf of Mexico well unleashed a tide of anger and frustration that poses a major challenge to President Barack Obama, who has called the BP spill a "manmade" calamity. Obama faces criticism that his administration reacted too slowly.