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Fierce sandstorms over Baghdad and the surrounding area cause delays for U.S. forces advancing toward Baghdad. The Army's 3rd Infantry Division makes its way within 70 miles of the capital, where it encounters some of the strongest resistance in the six-day campaign. Hear NPR's Eric Westervelt.

Pentagon rethinks its strategy in the U.S. advance toward Baghdad as troops face unexpected levels of resistance from a group of Iraq's irregular forces. The Fedayeen fighters, who dress in civilian clothes and attack U.S. tanks and vehicles from pickup trucks, have slowed the movement of U.S. and British forces. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

More than 225,000 U.S. troops are positioned near Iraq and in the Persian Gulf, and thousands more are headed to the region. U.S. commanders say their forces are prepared to carry out any orders from President Bush. From Kuwait, hear NPR's Mike Shuster.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says accused enemy combatants being held at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will have their cases reviewed once a year by a new special panel. Rumsfeld also indicates some of the prisoners could be held indefinitely, or until the United States determines they no longer pose a threat. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

Massachusetts lawmakers discuss for a second day the wording of a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage but legalize civil unions. The floor debate has been marked by passionate and emotional speeches. Outside the chamber where the special legislative session is being held, supporters of both sides of the debate have gathered to chant and protest. Hear NPR's Tovia Smith.

Defending pre-war intelligence on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, CIA director George Tenet says his analysts "never said there was an imminent threat." Tenet says intelligence analysts came to different conclusions on the state of Iraq's weapons programs -- and made those differences clear to the Bush administration. Hear NPR's Vicky O'Hara.

Reports suggest former Vermont governor Howard Dean will suspend his campaign for president Wednesday. Dean was once the perceived frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, but he's failed to win any of the 17 primaries and contests held so far. Dean may leave open the prospect of returning to the race. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and New York Times reporter Jodi Wilgoren.

As 10 states prepare to hold Democratic contests March 2, Sen. John Edwards concentrates his efforts in Ohio, New York and Georgia -- areas especially hard hit by job losses in manufacturing. Edwards hopes his own working-class background and tough stance against free-trade agreements will help win over blue-collar voters. Hear NPR's Adam Hochberg.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani says he will accept a caucus-elected government in July if the United Nations guarantees direct elections will be held in Iraq by 2005. Sistani, Iraq's most prominent Shiite cleric, had previously insisted that elections take place by June 30, the date targeted by the United States for a transfer of power to an Iraqi government. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says elections to choose a new Iraqi government are possible by the end of 2004 -- but only if work begins immediately. Annan, delivering the findings of a U.N. report prepared by envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, added that due to political strife in the country, Iraq might not be ready to hold elections until 2005. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.