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Amid reports of large-scale kidnappings, Iraqi security forces raid houses believed to house Sunni militants holding Shiite hostages. The sectarian violence prompted Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to appeal for calm in the region.

Federated Department Stores plans to acquire May Department Stores for more than $11 billion in cash and stock. Federated owns Macy's and Bloomingdale's among other retail chains. May operates Lord & Taylor, Marshall Field's and others. The combined company will have about 1,000 stores and nearly $30 billion in annual sales.

North Korea publicly acknowledges that it has nuclear weapons and has given notice that it will pull out of six-way non-proliferation talks. The statement, carried by the official North Korean news agency, is the first response to President Bush's recent pledge to bring an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons programs through dialogue.

Pope John Paul II appeared in St. Peter's Square in celebration of Easter Sunday, but was unable to pronounce his Easter blessing to the world. Tens of thousands had gathered at the Vatican after illness forced the pope to miss Holy Week events for the first time since his election in 1978.

Tens of thousands of Christians gathered in St. Peter's Square in Rome for Easter Mass saw Pope John Paul II bless them with the sign of the cross, but the ailing pontiff did not celebrate mass. NPR's Debbie Elliott speaks with John Allen of The National Catholic Reporter.

In a colorful new cookbook, Alabama chef Frank Stitt shares moutwatering recipes from his award-winning restaurant Highlands Bar and Grill. He talks with NPR's Debbie Elliot about the tradition of food in the South.

The White House bestows the first Medal of Honor awarded for service in Iraq on Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, who was killed near the Baghdad airport two years ago Monday. Michele Norris talks with his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Thomas Smith, about Sgt. Smith and his actions that day.

Former President Clinton is "recovering normally" after a successful quadruple coronary bypass surgery Monday, said the surgeon who led the operation at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia. Doctors expect Clinton to make a full recovery, despite the extensive heart disease they repaired. Hear NPR's Richard Knox.

Fighting intensifies in Najaf, as U.S. and Iraqi forces begin a major offensive to crush a weeklong insurgency by militia loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. U.S. forces began the pre-dawn assault by cordoning off Najaf's cemetery and shrine of Imam Ali. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Ivan Watson.

New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey resigns, acknowledging an extra-marital affair with a man. Speaking alongside his wife, McGreevey said he "engaged in adult consensual affairs with another man." Hear NPR's Michele Norris and Eugene Sonn of member station WBGO.