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Tropical Storm Fay drenching Florida

MIAMI, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Fay drenched central South Florida with heavy rain and spawned a tornado Tuesday amid fears it could become a hurricane later this week.

A hurricane watch was in effect for the Florida east coast north of Flagler Beach to Altamaha, Ga.

At 7 p.m. EDT, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Fay, carrying winds near 65 mph, was centered about 45 miles south-southwest of Melbourne, Fla., and was moving toward the north-northeast at near 7 mph.

Bill Read, director of the center, earlier told The Miami Herald the system could re-intensify into a hurricane near the Florida-Georgia border.

"It's remained unusually well-organized for a system that's moved over land," Todd Kimberlain, a meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center, told The New York Times. "Usually after a system follows land, it's cut off from its energy sources and it weakens significantly."

The Orlando Sentinel reported a tornado hit a mobile home park near Sebastian on the Atlantic coast, and there were reports of two people injured, but details were sketchy.

After ripping through the Caribbean for four days, killing several people, Fay came ashore Tuesday bringing as much as 10 inches of rain.

Only minor damage and flooding were reported as the storm moved inland, and the state could actually benefit, as Lake Okeechobee is three feet below its normal level.

Dan Summers, director of the Collier County Bureau of Emergency Services, told the Times "we were just pretty lucky this time."

Crab fisherman Richard Collins, 59, said Fay ranked low among the 15 major storms he's experienced. "It was just enough to screw everything up," he said. "It makes a mess."

Musharraf may be considering Britain

LONDON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf may be considering London as his place of exile, a source said.

The Telegraph cites a Western diplomat in Islamabad who believes that he will first visit Saudi Arabia, making a pilgrimage to the Muslim holy cities. But the diplomat said that London is likely to be where he will choose to live.

Musharraf announced his resignation Monday after the coalition now ruling Pakistan threatened him with impeachment.

"I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes," he said in a speech on television. "'Pakistan First' has always been my philosophy.'"

Musharraf, who received a commission in the army in 1964, was a longtime member of an institution that has its roots in the Indian Army of the British empire. He studied at the Royal College of Defense Studies in Britain.

Bush sees progress in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush says on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's Gulf Coast devastation he sees "hopeful signs of progress."

In prepared remarks released by the White House ahead of his Wednesday visit to New Orleans, Bush noted more than $126 billion has been committed to disaster response and recovery along the Gulf Coast.

"Together, we are working to make sure that New Orleans comes back -- even stronger, safer, and more vibrant than it was before the storm, he said.

Bush acknowledged "there is still a lot of work to do" before New Orleans is fully recovered.

"And for people who are still hurting and not yet back in their homes, a brighter day might seem impossible," he said. "Yet a brighter day is coming and it is heralded by hopeful signs of progress."

Those signs, he said, include repairing and upgrading the levees and flood walls, the restoration of housing, rejuvenation of the region's economy, improvements in the healthcare system, reduced crime and "the rebirth of New Orleans education."

Bush said there also is hope in the return of "the normal rhythms of life" as restaurants reopen, people cheer on their sports teams, churches reopen and music returns to the city.

Bush also said he was inspired by the efforts of the Louisiana National Guard and several individuals who have gone the extra mile to try to rebuild their city.

McCain lubes up campaign

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Sen. John McCain of Arizona took his Republican presidential campaign offshore Tuesday, touting his energy platform on an oil rig.

Speaking to reporters on the deck of Chevron's Genesis oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico 150 miles out from New Orleans, McCain vowed that if elected in November "there will be a whole lot more like this, not only here in the Gulf, but also off of our East and West coasts," The Washington Post reported.

"We need to drill offshore. We need to do it now," he said.

McCain also lit into his likely Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, saying he is wrong to oppose new drilling opportunities off the United States' shores "and the American people know it."

McCain said he thought Obama would change his mind if he were to visit an oil rig.

Obama contends oil drilling won't lower prices at the pump in the short run, but says he could support drilling if it's part of a larger energy legislative package, the Post reported.