Hurricane Ike shreds central Cuba, heads for Havana

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Hurricane Ike ripped through central Cuba on Tuesday, killing at least four, toppling colonial landmarks and forcing the evacuation of nearly 1.2 million people -- with more likely to be displaced as the powerful storm plowed toward populous Havana, reports Carol J. Williams.

Residents in Texas and northern Mexico braced for Ike’s next wallop.

Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro proclaimed his country on ‘combat alert’ against the third massive storm to hit the island in as many weeks and what he portrayed as a heartless double standard that blocks U.S. humanitarian aid.

Read more on Hurricane Ike here, and for more on Cuba click here.