Conflicting Reports of Red Sea Oil Spill

Conflicting reports are coming out of the Middle East regarding an oil spill in the Red Sea.

Via AP:Environmentalists say Red Sea oil spill continuing

Environmental activists said Monday that an oil spill off the coast of Egypt's Red Sea is continuing even after the government said it had been contained, leaving turtles and sea birds covered in oil.

Government spokesman Magdy Rady told the state news agency Monday that the spill, which began last week, was "limited" and has now largely been contained. It was one of the first government acknowledgments that the spill was even taking place.

Via Al-Masry Al-Youm:Red Sea Gov: Oil spill successfully dealt with

Red Sea Governor Magdi Kobeisi announced on Sunday that an oil spill off the coast of Hurghada had been successfully cleaned up after only four days.

"The shoreline is clean now and local diving centers have reopened," he said.

From The Times South Africa: Red Sea oil 'cover-up'

The Egyptian government has been accused of trying to cover up a major oil spill in the Red Sea that has affected holiday beaches along the resort coast of Hurghada.

Environmentalists monitoring the area have taken pictures of oil-encrusted beaches and tracked the spill to an offshore rig operated by a subsidiary of the state petroleum company.