WASHINGTON/MIAMI, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav weakened to a category three storm as it moved through the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico on Sunday after hitting Cuba.

Forecasters said its path over Cuba had weakened it more than expected and the storm now had sustained winds of 125 miles per hour (201 kph). They said it was likely to regain strength and make landfall as a powerful category four on Monday around New Orleans, the city swamped three years ago by Hurricane Katrina. (Reporting by Sandra Maler; Editing by Dominic Evans)

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