US emergencies chief steps down

Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, tendered his resignation, after President George W Bush's latest visit to New Orleans. This is no surprise, although Brown's fall came quickly. On September 2, five days after the storm hit, Bush told the 50-year-old lawyer, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." :p

Polls in Time and Newsweek magazines suggested most Americans were unhappy with the speed with which government reacted to the 29 August disaster. The Newsweek poll gave Mr Bush his lowest approval rating as president - just 38%.