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Embattled Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott remains defiant about hanging on to his post after a GOP colleague declares he is willing to challenge Lott for the leadership job. Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) has the public support of several GOP senators. Hear NPR's David Welna.

Top U.N. arms inspector Hans Blix, en route to Baghdad, says he expects difficulties in assessing whether Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction. But he warns his team will not accept any resistance to the checks. NPR's Nick Spicer reports.

Members of the House and Senate return to Washington for a "lame-duck" session of the 107th Congress. Meanwhile, the White House and lawmakers reach agreement on a compromise plan to create a new Department of Homeland Security. Hear NPR's David Welna, Pam Fessler and Mara Liasson.

An apparent car bomb explodes outside of a mosque in the Muslim holy city of Najaf, killing at least 75 people, including prominent Shiite cleric Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim. Al-Hakim led a political party that operated in exile for years in Iran during Saddam Hussein's regime, and had cooperated to a degree with occupying U.S. forces. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

U.S. forces take into custody one of Iraq's top biological weapons experts, nicknamed "Dr. Germ" for her work in the production of biological warfare agents such as anthrax and botulinum toxin. Rihab Taha, a British-educated microbiologist, was not on the U.S. list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis, but U.S. officials say her capture was still a top priority. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

U.S. forces in Iraq capture a senior biological weapons scientist, known as "Mrs. Anthrax" and the only woman on the U.S. military list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis. A U.S.-trained microbiologist, Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash is believed to have played a key role in rebuilding Iraq's biological weapons program after the 1991 Gulf War. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

Baghdad's new police force begins work Monday with new uniforms and new leadership. Zuhar Abdul Razaq, a former police officer chosen by the U.S. Army to temporarily lead the force, says he will focus on reassembling the police force and on controlling the looting and lawlessness that has pervaded the city since U.S. forces invaded more than three weeks ago. Hear NPR's Guy Raz.

A missile fired by an unmanned U.S. aircraft kills a key al Qaeda leader and five other suspected terrorists in Yemen. U.S. officials confirm the strike was a planned CIA attack. NPR's Tom Gjelten reports.

A key al Qaeda leader and five other suspected terrorists are killed in Yemen after the car in which they were riding is attacked by an unmanned aircraft, Yemeni officials say. U.S. officials confirm the strike was a planned CIA attack. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

Four more former Iraqi officials are in U.S. custody. A total of 11 top officials of the deposed regime are now under arrest. In Baghdad, retired U.S. Gen. Jay Garner oversees a town-hall meeting on municipal leadership and security issues. And some Iraqi schools reopen. Hear NPR's Guy Raz and NPR's Scott Simon.