Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Parts of Hurricane Ravaged New Orleans to Reopen Saturday
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=F06185:3919ACA

Mayor has called on business owners to return to famous French Quarter
and three other parts of city to revive economic activity





Johnnie Morris, left, and Frederick Williams move refrigerator along
St. Ann Street in French Quarter, Friday Parts of hurricane ravaged
New Orleans are set to reopen to business owners, Saturday.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has called on business owners to return to
the famous French Quarter and three other parts of the city to revive
economic activity. The areas are located on some of the highest ground
in the low-lying city.

Businesses will have to operate under difficult conditions, with
officials warning there may be limited or no electricity or clean
running water.

Starting Monday, nearly 200,000 residents will be allowed to return to
their homes. Most homes in the city are damaged and many are
uninhabitable.

Less than one-half of New Orleans remains flooded, but dangers from
downed power lines, natural gas leaks, toxic debris and other hazards
remain.

Hurricane Katrina ravaged the U.S. Gulf Coast region on August 29. The
total death toll in five states now stands at more than 800.

President Bush said Friday the federal government can fund a massive
recovery effort without raising taxes, but it will require spending
cuts elsewhere in the U.S. budget.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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