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President George Bush's re-election campaign begins running hard-edged ads against likely Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry, with the election eight months away. Analysts are divided on the effectiveness of negative campaign ads, saying they lower voter turnout. NPR's Don Gonyea reports. Hear NPR's Elizabeth Blair.

As U.S.-led forces in Iraq confront a growing insurgency, they face an ominous new developmtent: hostage-taking. American Marines continue to battle for control of the town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad. In southern Iraq, Shiite fighters loyal to radical cleric Muqtada Sadr are said to be in full control of two towns and parts of another. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Philip Reeves.

U.S. forces surrounding Fallujah loosen the perimeter they've established to allow injured residents to get hospital treatment without evacuating the besieged city. Meanwhile, U.S. military and administrative officials hold a second day of talks with representatives of the insurgents who control the city. Elsewhere in Iraq, two Japanese hostages are freed. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and NPR's Emily Harris.

In 1994, amid a mass slaughter that left about 800,000 people dead in Rwanda, another 250,000 were raped. The Rwandan government now finds it easier to win confessions for the killings than for the sex crimes. Michael Kavanagh reports.

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader says he'll meet with Democrat Sen. John Kerry next month to talk about forming a "second front" in the effort to defeat President Bush in the fall. Many Democrats fear Nader's candidacy could tip the election to Bush. Nader talks with NPR's Bob Edwards.

Few residents of Fallujah seem to show remorse for attacks Wednesday on four U.S. civilians in the city, whose bodies were burned and hanged by angry mobs. Many residents in the restive town tell reporters the grisly deaths were a proper show of disdain for America. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and New York Times reporter Jeffrey Gettleman.

The Ohio congressman faces an uphill fight in the general election, as the state has trended more Republican in recent years.

The judge in the Tyco corporate-looting trial denies a mistrial to defense attorneys after meeting privately with a juror who has set off a media frenzy. The female juror, identified in several news items, was reported to be a holdout for an acquittal. The judge says the woman told him nothing has happened that will keep her from deliberating in "good conscience." Hear NPR's Nancy Solomon.

The killing of four U.S. civilians working for a private security contractor raise doubts about whether employees of private firms receive adequate training and oversight. The U.S. military is increasingly giving such businesses more responsibility in Iraq -- including jobs that U.S. troops have traditionally done. Hear NPR's Eric Westervelt.

As the United States reports the death of another soldier in Iraq, the head of a visiting U.N. delegation says security must improve if the country is to hold general elections by January. The U.S. military has accepted responsibility for the shooting deaths early this month of two Arabic television reporters, but insists the incident was an accident. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.