US Republicans change convention programme due to hurricane Gustav

NEW YORK - US Republicans have decided to change the programme of their convention, which opens Monday afternoon, due to Hurricane Gustav, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has said.

"This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics and we have to act as Americans. We have to join the 300 million other Americans on behalf of our fellow citizens. It's a time for action. So, we're going to suspend most of our activities except for those absolutely necessary," said McCain, speaking from St. Louis, Missouri, on Sunday.

THe Democratic party has already named Senators Barak Obama and Joseph Biden as its candidates for President and vice president, respectively, for the November elections.

Republican campaign manager Rick Davis told reporters that Republicans would meet in an abbreviated fashion, conducting only what was necessary to constitute a convention, such as calling the convention to order, receiving a report from the credentials committee and adopting the party platform.

"(The) programme will be business only and will refrain from any political rhetoric that would be traditional in an opening session of a convention," he said.