BP's Chief Executive Tony Hayward says the company's latest containment efforts on a massive oil leak is working.

He is also promising to do everything to restore the Gulf of Mexico to its original state.

BP's latest containment effort involves a cap placed over the leak that gathers oil and siphons it up via a pipe to a container ship.

Speaking to the BBC, Hayward says the cap is working.

Tony Hayward, BP's Chief Executive, said, "As we speak, the containment cap is producing around 10,000 barrels of oil a day to the surface, which is being processed on the surface."

Public pressure has been mounting on BP to cap its gushing oil well as soon as possible. The public also demands it take full financial responsibility for the clean-up and damage caused to Gulf coast fisheries, wildlife and tourism. Hayward responded to the demands with unmistakable words.

BP's Chief Executive"We are going to stop the leak, we're going to clean up the oil, we're going to remediate any environmental damage, and we're going to return the Gulf coast to the position it was in prior to this event. That's an absolute commitment, and we will be there long after the media has gone, making good on our promises."

However, the CEO side-stepped a question on whether the company would go ahead with dividend payments to shareholders. Such a move would be very unpopular in the US. Many want the company to spend its money on the clean-up and damage claims.

The CEO says BP's board would decide at the end of July whether to pay out dividends or not, taking into account all the circumstances.