Start of Trial on Gulf Oil Spill Is Delayed Amid Talk of a Settlement.

NEW ORLEANS -- The civil trial over America's biggest oil spill has been delayed for a week as efforts to settle the multibillion-dollar litigation intensify. Proceedings were scheduled to begin Monday, but on Sunday afternoon, Judge Carl J. Barbier of Federal District Court, who is overseeing the sprawling litigation, issued a brief order pushing the opening day back to March 5 ''for reasons of judicial efficiency and to allow the parties to make further progress in their settlement discussions.'' In an unusual move, the judge said the court was issuing the order ''on its own motion,'' as opposed to a request from any party in the case. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]