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WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of BP says the British company and the Obama administration are "fully aligned" on steps necessary to bring an end to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis and clean up the devastated region.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House Wednesday after a meeting with President Barack Obama, Carl-Henric Svanberg also apologized to the American people for the environmental disaster. He said that BP hopes to be able to win back their trust.

He also said that BP's board of directors voted Wednesday to cease paying a dividend because of the ongoing crisis.