NEW ORLEANS (AFP) - British energy giant BP halted the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico leak for the first time in three months, raising hopes Friday the worst oil disaster in US history may finally be over.

While President Barack Obama and BP warned against celebrating before tests are completed, news that engineers had shut all three valves on a giant cap was a ray of light for coastal communities whose livelihoods have been ravaged.
In London, BP shares jumped 6.53 percent after a disaster that has cost it 3.5 billion dollars (2.78 billion Euros). Compensation for damage caused by the millions of barrels of oil that have leaked could reach 10 times that amount.
The announcement was made by BP's senior vice president Kent Wells shortly after BP engineers shut down the last of three valves on the cap placed on the blown-out well at around 2:25 pm (1925 GMT) Thursday.