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On Friday, the mother of the youngest of three Japanese hostages being held in Iraq appealed to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to withdraw Japanese troops. But Koizumi says he has no intention of withdrawing the troops, and pledges that Japan will do its utmost to rescue the hostages. NPR's Rob Gifford reports from Tokyo.

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry criticizes the stay-the-course strategy President George Bush reiterated in his White House news conference Tuesday night. Kerry, the presumed Democratic nominee for president, said at a news conference in New York that the president has been too inflexible in his plans and has alienated U.S. allies. NPR's David Welna reports.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi vows to maintain his country's participation in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, despite the execution of an Italian hostage by Iraqi militants. The militants are threatening to kill three other Italian hostages seized this week if Italian troops aren't withdrawn. Hear NPR's Sylvia Poggioli.

Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's chief national security adviser, will appear Thursday before the Sept. 11 commission. Rice will testify under oath for the first time. She met privately with panel members in February. This appearance follows questions raised by others who have testified before the commission. NPR's Pam Fessler 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.

In the new book Against All Enemies, Richard Clarke -- President Bush's former counter-terrorism coordinator -- says the president disregarded his warnings about the threat posed by al Qaeda prior to the Sept. 11 attacks, and tried to push a link to Iraq immediately after. Senior Bush administration officials vigorously deny the allegations. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and NPR News Analyst Cokie Roberts.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan outlines his plans to investigate charges of corruption in the now-defunct U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq. Members of Iraq's Governing Council say that officials both inside and outside of Iraq siphoned money from the program. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

In a joint news conference at the White House Friday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush reaffirm their commitment to "stay the course" in Iraq. Bush affirms that he will invite the United Nations take the lead in guiding Iraq's transition to self-rule, scheduled to begin June 30. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice has refused to testify publicly before the panel investigating the Sept. 11 attacks. Former national security advisors Zbigniew Brzezinski and William Clark say Rice's refusal is in accord with the law and history of executive privilege, but it endangers the nation's trust in the Bush administration. Hear NPR's Juan Williams, Brzezinski and Clark.

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice testifies before the Sept. 11 panel, amid a highly politicized atmosphere fueled by allegations that the White House ignored the al Qaeda threat. White House officials are looking to Rice to vindicate their plans to address terrorism prior to the 2001 attacks. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and NPR's Larry Abramson.