Search results for

International art experts meeting in Paris say some thefts of ancient artifacts from Iraq museums were made on behalf of smugglers who hired the looters. Among the items stolen or destroyed are tens of thousands of examples of cuneiform -- the world's oldest-known form of writing. Baghdad's Museum of Antiquities housed 100,000 of the tablets, many of which had yet to be studied and translated. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards.

U.S. officials say several members of the media and a U.S. serviceman have attempted to ship items from Iraq, including portraits of Saddam Hussein's family and gilded weapons, back to the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement says postwar souvenir-hunting is considered theft and illegal under U.S. law. Hear NPR's Eric Niiler.

Iraqi citizens with television sets now can watch Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings every night, along with Fox Network news and the PBS NewsHour. The networks agree to let their news programs be aired on a television channel being established by the U.S. government in Iraq. Critics say the broadcasts will do little to enhance America's image or to improve local journalism. NPR's John McChesney reports.

U.N. Security Council members have mixed reactions to a resolution on postwar Iraq proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by Britain and Spain. Council members generally agree on ending sanctions on Iraq, but Germany and Russia raise questions over provisions that would give the United States and its allies substantial control over Iraq's oil revenues. NPR's Vicky O' Hara reports.

The American military faces increased opposition in Iraq, including frequent attacks on U.S. convoys. Striking back, U.S. forces kill more than 60 people in a raid on what U.S. officials describe as a terrorist training camp near the Syrian border. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and NPR's Ivan Watson.

Iraqis in the holy city of Najaf denounce U.S. support for an interim Sunni Muslim mayor and call for immediate elections. Najaf is home to a shrine sacred to Shia Muslims, who make up a majority of the country's population. American administrators, who have delayed elections twice, say they need more time to organize a legal vote. Hear NPR's Nick Spicer.

U.S. air and ground troops attack what military officials call a suspected guerilla training camp, killing about 70 anti-U.S. forces. In a separate incident, 27 Iraqi fighters die when a U.S. armored patrol returns fire after coming under attack north of Baghdad. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports.

A sniper kills an American soldier and several explosions rock Baghdad as U.S. forces in Iraq continue to face attacks despite a week-long military campaign to quell the violence. The U.S. civil administration says it will create a new criminal court to try those accused of inciting violence against U.S. and British military forces. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports.

A rocket-propelled grenade is fired at a U.S. Army ambulance south of Baghdad, killing a U.S. soldier traveling inside. The attack is one of at least four launched against U.S. targets Thursday, killing two Iraqi bystanders and wounding at least a dozen others. NPR's Tom Bullock reports.

The Senate rejects two Democrat-sponsored amendments that would begin the process of withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. Despite widespread doubts that the measures would pass, the debate was the most ferocious since the invasion of Baghdad in 2003. Since that time, 2,500 Americans have died in Iraq.