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The U.S. military launches an investigation into a shooting at a checkpoint near Najaf that killed at least seven Iraqi women and children. Military officials say U.S. soldiers opened fire on a civilian van after the driver failed to stop as ordered. Hear NPR's Nick Spicer.

Military analysts criticize the U.S. war plan as fierce Iraqi resistance slows the march toward Baghdad. Critics say U.S. commanders made a mistake by not sending more ground forces to Iraq. On Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld defends the war plan, saying the "outcome is assured" and the ruling regime will be removed. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

Iraqi paramilitary forces fire on British troops surrounding the southern port city of Basra. Reports say Iraqis loyal to Saddam are also firing on civilians trying to flee the city. The search for food, water and supplies intensifies for Basra's civilians as the standoff enters its sixth day. NPR's Michele Norris talks with Reuters photographer Chris Helgren.

The federal government is about to select several U.S. firms to oversee the rebuilding of Iraq. Some say it's unseemly for American firms to earn a profit repairing damage inflicted by the U.S. military. European companies were shut out from the bidding process. NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dismisses claims the United States was unprepared for the ground war in Iraq and says there will be no delay in the push toward Baghdad. NPR's Alex Chadwick talks to Tom Ricks of The Washington Post.

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Rick Atkinson, Washington Post correspondent with the Army's 101st Airborne Division, near Najav in central Iraq. Atkinson describes the firefights the 101st Airborne Division has been engaging in around the Shiite holy city of Najav.

Iraqi military officials in Baghdad promise more suicide attacks against U.S.-led forces, following Saturday's car bombing that killed four U.S. soldiers near the Iraqi city of Najaf. Iraq says it has given the equivalent of more than $30,000 to the family of the man who carried out the suicide attack. NPR's Liane Hansen talks to reporter John Laurence.

Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan identifies Saturday's suicide car bomber as an Iraqi army officer and says such attacks are now "routine military policy." Four U.S. troops died in the attack near the central Iraq city of Najaf. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep.

There was more fierce fighting today around the central Iraqi city of An Najaf, about 100 miles south of the capital of Baghdad. U.S. forces with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division have all but surrounded the city, and are slowly eliminating the Iraqi military and paramilitary resistance there. NPR's Eric Westervelt, embedded with the 3rd Infantry, reports on the fierce battle to gain control of the city -- site of a holy Shi'ite shrine.

Fatima arrived in the United States from Iraq almost three years ago. In this edition of the NPR series "War Diaries," she recounts the harrowing days of the 1991 Gulf War.