WASHINGTON, Oct 1, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - US President Joe Biden on Friday said the explosion of the underwater Nord Stream natural gas pipeline from Russia to western Europe was sabotage and that divers would be sent to check "exactly what happened."

"It was a deliberate act of sabotage and the Russians are pumping out disinformation and lies. We'll work with our allies to get to the bottom (of) exactly, precisely what happened," he told reporters.

"At the appropriate moment, when things calm down, we're going to be sending divers down to find out exactly what happened. We don't know that yet exactly," he said, adding that the United States is already working with allies to "enhance the protection of this critical infrastructure."