Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed condolences, Sweden’s Prime Minister said it was a “painful example” of challenges facing the world and the premier of tiny Mauritius pointed out that vulnerable islands could face the same fate as New Orleans.

The prime minister of Barbados has announced plans to make the Caribbean island a republic, replacing the British Queen as the official head of state with a locally elected president.

Caribbean islanders are braced for Hurricane Ivan, scrambling to put up storm shutters and buy water just days after Hurricane Frances tore across the region.