Tropical Storm Isaac threatens coast of Florida

The opening day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa in the US could be threatened as Tropical Storm Isaac built up over the Caribbean Sea with the possibility of turning into a hurricane today.

As it follows its course, it is expected to be put off the coast of Florida on Monday, moving away from the Leeward Islands.

The storm prompted hurricane warnings in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and may also threaten the Gulf of Mexico where US energy interests are located.

Tropical Storm Isaac centred around 270 miles southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, late last night and sustained top winds of 45 miles per hour possibly strengthening into a hurricane on Thursday night or Friday.

According to the US National Hurricane Centre, forecast models predict the storm to move west to northwest across the island shared by the Dominican Republic and flood and mudslide-prone Haiti, Hispaniola.

Several computer models predicted different tracks for Isaac either moving parallel to Florida’s western coastline or making a landfall in South Florida before moving inland.

Pre-trial hearings were postponed at the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base in southeast Cuba according to authorities who said they were set to begin on Thursday for five prisoners accused of plotting September 11 attacks.

Lawyers, paralegals, interpreters, journalists, rights monitors and family members of 9/11 victims were being prepared by the US military to be evacuated.