LONDON, Sept 11: Oil prices tumbled to six-month lows below 97 dollars on Thursday as dollar rallied and the likelihood of a sharp global economic slowdown loomed over demand growth, traders said.

Prices had risen earlier in the day as Hurricane Ike headed toward key energy facilities on the southern US coast and after Opec on Wednesday reduced output to curb falling prices, they said.

Brent North Sea crude for delivery in October dropped to 96.99 dollars a barrel on Thursday -- its lowest level since March 5. .—AFP