Foreign aid: An offer of aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina from the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, which included two mobile hospital units, 120 rescue and first-aid experts and 50 tonnes of food, has been rejected by the US, according to civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.
Mr Jackson said the offer from the Venezuelan leader included 10 water purification plants, 18 power generation plants and 20 tonnes of bottled water.
He said the refusal of aid was typical of the mishandling of the crisis by the Bush administration.
The offer was one of many from governments and aid organisations across the world, despite the allegations of conservative commentators and bloggers that the US is being ignored by countries it helped during crises. "This may be Mr Bush's worst hour of leadership," said Mr Jackson, who is urging the government to use deserted military bases to house evacuees.