LONDON (AP) — BP is delaying plans to begin deepwater drilling off the Libyan coast.

BP spokesman David Nicholas said yesterday that BP expects to begin exploratory drilling in the Gulf of Sirte later this year. The London-based company had said last month that it planned to start drilling within "a few weeks".

Nicholas says the company is "working through the detailed planning".

BP has run into opposition to its plans for drilling in both the Gulf of Sirte and off Scotland's Shetland Islands after the Gulf of Mexico spill.

Objections are related to both safety and politics — a US Senate committee has been investigating allegations that BP pressured the Scottish government into releasing convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi in return for Libyan oil deals.