Weakened Gustav batters Gulf

The hurricane that forced the exodus of two million from New Orleans made landfall Monday southwest of the Louisiana city.

It was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane from Category 3 before it landed, sparing New Orleans the worst of its might. But forecasters warned sea surges crashing into the Gulf coast, would test levees that were reinforced in the wake of deadly Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The eye of Gustav went ashore near the town of Cocodrie, west of New Orleans, packing winds of 175kms or 110mph.

Susan Flory reports.