Evacuees allowed back into New Orleans

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2008

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AFP) — New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on Wednesday allowed residents to return to the city, voiding a mandatory evacuation order and lifting police roadblocks more than 12 hours earlier than planned.

Nagin said residents who "jumped the gun" and headed back home before the city's planned opening Thursday morning would be allowed to return.

"All the roadblocks on main arteries have been cleared," said Louisiana state trooper Joe Piglia. "Traffic is light and I think everything has been resolved."

Meanwhile, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal said National Guard soldiers exchanged gunfire with looters in a storm-struck area on Tuesday night.

"I ask our people to be extremely vigilant about safety," Jindal said. "If you don't need to...