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At a briefing in Baghdad, Iraq's defense minister says he expects U.S. forces to encircle the city within five to 10 days. Sultan Hashim Ahmed says the forces will battle each other in the city's streets, but that American troops ultimately will fail to take Baghdad. In the end, Americans will be forced out, he says, because Iraqis have the advantage of fighting on their own soil for their own country. Hear NPR's Anne Garrels.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new memoir, The Only Girl in the Car by Kathy Dobie.

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.

Former U.S.Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan dies at the age of 76. The New York Democrat was a scholarly politician who led a colorful and varied life, serving at various times as a U.N. ambassador, Harvard professor, shoe-shine boy and longshoreman. Moynihan died from complications of an infection following a burst appendix. (Please note: audio in this piece has been revised to acknowledge that Sen. Moynihan was born in Oklahoma, not Arizona.)

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Ze'ev Schiff, defense editor for the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz, who gives his military analysis of the war in Iraq. If the United States hopes to avoid besieging Baghdad and a difficult urban battle, it must defeat the Iraqi Republican Guard forces before they enter the city. Schiff believes these forces can be engaged before they take up positions inside Baghdad.

The Defense Department says the war in Iraq has claimed 24 American lives. Another seven are held as prisoners, and six are listed as missing in action. Across the country, families and friends grieve for their loved ones. NPR's David Molpus reports.

The U.S.-led military offensive against Iraq began on March 19, 2003, at approximately 9:30pm ET. NPR News Special Coverage from the night of March 19 is available online at the link below.

The U.N. Security Council reports progress on a proposal that would reinstate Iraq's oil-for-food program and speed up emergency food aid to the Iraqi people. Arab governments also ask the Security Council to pass a resolution demanding a ceasefire. Hear NPR's Vicky O'Hara.

Turkey's top general says he won't send large-scale forces into Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq unless troops patrolling the border regions are attacked. The announcement reassures Turkey's NATO allies and Kurdish leaders, who oppose any large Turkish deployment in Iraq. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

Personal accounts and reflections of individuals affected by the Iraq war. Hear Paul Williams' diary entry.