"It's hard to get federal troops in to bring about order when the local police have broken down," he added. "I just think the situation would have gone a lot better if there were a Rudy Giuliani down there - someone who could have set a firm tone from day one."

Reports that rescue efforts have been blocked by violent New Orleans residents were widespread by Friday morning, with the New York Post noting:

• Gangs and armed men were said to be battling police and National Guard personnel. Outside the Superdome, where 20,000 survivors had sought refuge, a Guardsman was shot.

• A Louisiana National Guard colonel, Pete Schneider, told reporters that a shot was fired yesterday at a Chinook helicopter helping to relocate refugees.

• Fox News reported that two men with AK-47's fired on a police station.

• "In areas where our employees have been determined to potentially be in danger [from gunfire], we have pulled back," a Homeland Security aide said.

Columnist Rich Lowry added to the list of relief efforts that had to be halted because of violence, noting:

• Rescue workers report that rocks and bottles have been thrown at them and shots fired their way.

• Goons stole a bus from a nursing home and threatened its residents.

Meanwhile, the New York Daily News reported that New Orleans police were forced to withdraw from the convention center after evacuees sheltered there became violent.

"We pulled our troops out because civilians have taken over," a state trooper told News reporters on the scene. "We don't have the manpower to deal with them."

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