Storm threat to Republican convention

Houston: Tropical storm Gustav is threatening to interrupt or even postpone the Republican national convention this week, when it is expected to sweep into the Gulf of Mexico as a stark reminder of one of the lowest points of the Bush administration.

The administration was accused by both Republicans and Democrats of acting too slowly and inefficiently to protect New Orleans against 2005's Hurricane Katrina, which killed 1,800 people amid high winds and rain that flooded the city.

At a minimum, White House officials are debating cancelling President George W. Bush's appearance at the convention in Minnesota tomorrow, when the storm is expected to reach the Gulf Coast. Senator John McCain would lose media attention during his nomination as Republican candidate to the storm's potential victims.

New Orleans

Bobby Jindal, Louisiana's governor, said he would cancel his Tuesday convention appearance if the storm continued toward Louisiana.

Preparations for the storm undermined ceremonies in New Orleans on Friday on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, as Louisiana officials considered evacuations, perhaps even of New Orleans.

Some people along the Louisiana coast were urged to leave, as 5,000 National Guardsmen were mobilised and began bringing in supplies and evacuation buses. Governors in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi each declared a state of emergency to speed federal assistance after the storm hits.

- Financial Times