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DNC roll call produces drama, comedy

DENVER, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Barack Obama had 1,549.5 votes when the Democratic National Convention in Denver suspended the roll call and declared him the party nominee by acclamation.

Two states passed when asked how they voted -- California and Illinois, Sen. Obama's home state. New Mexico yielded the floor to Illinois, which yielded the floor to New York.

Speaking for the New York delegation, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama's primary challenger, moved that the delegates declare Obama the Democratic presidential nominee as a show of unity. The Pepsi Center erupted in cheers.

The roll call began without fanfare.

"The roll call shall continue until we have a nominee," said Alice Travis Germond, secretary of the Democratic National Convention.

Alabama led off the voting, casting 48 votes for Obama and five for Clinton.

When it was time for Florida to announce its tallies, Germond said, "We're so happy you're here" as she announced the Sunshine State had 211 "full votes."

Whether Florida would have a voice in the DNC nominating process was in doubt because it and Michigan moved their primaries ahead of their scheduled times.

When Germond asked America Samoa to repeat its tally, she added, "We Democrats count our votes right."

Louisiana readies for Gustav's visit

MIAMI, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Gustav, a tropical storm forecast to regain hurricane status, saturated Haiti and battered its coast Wednesday, U.S. forecasters in Miami said.

Gustav, which left at least 22 people dead in its path across Haiti and the Dominican Republic, is still days away from the U.S. Gulf Coast. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal issued a pre-storm state of emergency, mobilizing 3,000 National Guard troops with another 5,000 to be ready if necessary, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported.

Jindal also was awaiting a reply to his request for a federal state of emergency. Shelter space was being prepared for 78,000 people and buses were being readied to transport up to 35,000.

"Our state is better prepared that it has been before," Jindal said. "I also want to remind people of their personal responsibility. ... The time has come to get prepared. Don't wait until this Friday when this storm is in the gulf."

Jindal said he was in touch with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who was on his way back to the city from attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

At 8 p.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Gustav was headed westward and had weakened further, though tropical storm warnings remained in effect for Haiti and Jamaica, which also was under a hurricane watch. A hurricane warning was in effect for parts of Cuba and a watch for the rest of the communist island, as well as the Cayman Islands.

The storm was centered about 75 miles west of Guantanamo, Cuba, moving westward about 7 mph with winds having subdued to about 45 mph with higher gusts. It was expected to pass between Jamaica and Cuba Thursday.

Once Gustav moves beyond Haiti it could regain hurricane strength in the next day or two, the hurricane center said.

The storm is expected to drop 6-12 inches over wide areas, with up to 25 inches possible in isolated areas.

Jury gets case of accused Marine

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- A federal jury in California Wednesday began deliberating the fate of a U.S. Marine sergeant accused in the alleged execution of four unarmed Iraqi detainees.

Sgt. Jose Nazario is charged with manslaughter, assault and use of a firearm in connection with the 2004 killings in Fallujah. Nazario, a former Riverside, Calif., police officer, is on trial in U.S. District Court instead of a military court martial because he has left the Marines.

As he handed the case over to them, U.S. District Judge Stephen Larson told the jurors to bear in mind that "warfare is regulated by law."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Behnke told the jury in his closing argument they must not let their views about the war or about combat cloud their judgment.

"This case is not about Iraq and whether you support or oppose the war," he said. "As horrible as combat is, while the Marines were under horrible circumstances that morning, that was what they had been trained to handle."

Defense attorney Kevin McDermott countered that convicting Nazario could endanger troops by causing them to second-guess themselves while in battle.

"Do not make the job harder for young men," he said.

Prosecutors played a tape Wednesday of the former squad leader allegedly telling another Marine in 2007 he ordered the killing of four Iraqis.

Nazario allegedly responds to a question from Sgt. Jermaine Nelson by saying "I did," the Los Angeles Times reported.

"What we did wasn't illegal," Nazario also allegedly told Nelson. "You can't play Monday morning quarterback."

Second U.S. ship arrives in Georgia

TBILISI, Georgia, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- A second U.S. vessel carrying humanitarian aid docked at the Georgian port of Batumi on Wednesday, observers said.

RIA Novosti reported that the Navy ship docked amid accusations by the Russian government that the ships are bringing arms to the Georgian military.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas arrived Wednesday, three days after the arrival of the U.S.S. McFaul destroyer.

The Coast Guard cutter, which is carrying food and essential commodities, was deployed after NATO announced its decision to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia on Aug. 12.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has accused the U.S. ships of delivering weapons to the Georgian military.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday the U.S. presence in the region is raising tensions.

"Battleships do not normally deliver aid, and this is gunboat diplomacy -- it does not make the situation more stable," he was quoted as saying.