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Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, President Bush's nominee to replace Gen. Tommy Franks as head of the U.S. Central Command defends the pre-war intelligence the administration presented on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Lt. Gen. John Abizaid says he expects U.S. forces to remain in Iraq "a long time" but declines to offer specifics. NPR's David Welna reports.

The World Health Organization extends a travel warning to Taiwan and two more Chinese provinces, as the number of SARS cases rises. In Hong Kong, also under a WHO travel advisory, officials say the rate of SARS infection has slowed. But streets and public facilities remain empty as residents seek to avoid contracting the disease that has infected more than 1,600 in the city. Hear NPR's Joe Palca.

Johnny Cash, country music's "Man in Black," dies due to complications from diabetes at 71. Cash, whose hits include "I Walk the Line," and "A Boy Named Sue," earned 11 Grammys in his six-decade career and was inducted into the Country Music, the Rock and Roll and the Songwriters halls of fame. Cash's death comes four months after the death of his wife, June Carter Cash. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards.

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark formally announces he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination. Supporters hope Clark's military record and strong criticism of the Iraq war effort will be the ticket to topple President Bush next year. But the first-time candidate starts the race well behind the nine other Democrats in organization and money. Hear NPR's Greg Allen.

U.S. forces capture the former senior Iraqi official known as "Chemical Ali." U.S. officials initially said Ali Hassan al-Majid had died in an April airstrike, but later learned he was still alive. Al-Majid, No. 5 on the U.S. list of most-wanted Iraqis, received his nickname for his alleged role in 1988 poison gas attacks on Iraqi civilians. Hear Ambassador Peter Galbraith.

Secretary of State Colin Powell says the United States will seek a new U.N. Security Council resolution that might convince more countries to contribute troops to stabilization efforts in Iraq. But Powell stresses that the United States has no plans to give up its authority over security operations, as some governments have suggested. Hear NPR's Vicky O'Hara.

The Bush administration will begin circulating a draft resolution within the U.N. Security Council that would authorize the creation of a multinational force in Iraq under U.S. command, U.S. officials say. The decision, an effort to attract more foreign contributions, comes as the cost of the U.S. operation in Iraq continues to mount. Hear Guillaume Parmentier of the French Center on the United States.

Pentagon officials acknowledge that extending the combat tours of some U.S. soldiers in Iraq will cost several hundred million extra dollars. The White House's 2005 budget curently includes no funding request for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Concerns are growing among members of Congress from both parties about the overall cost of military operations in Iraq. NPR'S Eric Westervelt reports.

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice briefs House and Senate Republicans on the situation in Iraq. The closed-door briefing comes near the end of a series of Congressional hearings examining troop deployment extensions, military costs and the planned June 30 transfer of power to an Iraqi government. Rice also met with some Senate Democrats in a meeting that was arranged at the last minute. NPR's Andrea Seabrook reports.

In White House interviews with Arab television journalists, President Bush calls the reported abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces "abhorrent" and vows to punish those responsible. The interviews were part of an overall White House effort to limit the political damage from a scandal it admits has hurt America's image in the Arab world. Hear NPR's Don Gonyea.