WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Earl wasdowngraded to a tropical storm Friday, weakening as itswirled up the U.S. eastern seaboard, the U.S. NationalHurricane Center said.

The storm, which earlier had been a major hurricane, wasnow packing sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), theMiami-based hurricane center said.

(Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Chris Wilson)