New Orleans’ controversial mayor has been forced to apologise after claiming Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for the war in Iraq and predicting the city would be “chocolate” again.

A combative Michael Brown blamed the Louisiana governor, the New Orleans mayor and even the Bush White House that appointed him for his agency’s dismal response to Hurricane Katrina in a fiery appearance before Congress.

Filthy water was slowly pumped out of New Orleans today after engineers fixed the ruptured levee that flooded 80% of the city.

THE mayor of New Orleans lashed out at US President George W Bush yesterday, demanding to know why he has failed to co-ordinate a successful relief operation.

Hurricane Katrina smashed into New Orleans today, knocking out power and submerging part of the low-lying city in up to 6ft of water.