At least four people have been killed after hurricane Ike lashed the Cuban coastline, bringing high winds and heavy rains.

Cuba, which has carried out well-executed evacuations over the years, ordered 1.2 million people to seek safety with friends and relatives or at government shelters, state television reported.

Cuban weather forecasters said Ike would pass near or over Havana as it leaves the island on Tuesday.

The hurricane that raked the Bahamas and hit Cuba as a terrifying Category 3 hurricane weakened to a category one storm as it ran along the Caribbean island.

Forecasters still expect Ike to strengthen again before hitting the US states of Louisiana or Texas this weekend.

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