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At least 20,000 people were killed by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake along the Pakistan-Indian border on Saturday. Pakistani Kashmir was hardest hit. Robert Siegel talks with NPR's Philip Reeves about the latest developments.

Despite charges of voting irregularities, U.S. and Afghan officials are calling the presidential election a success. The election proceeded without major bloodshed despite a threat by Taliban militants to disrupt the voting. Hear NPR's Philip Reeves.

Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr moves into Najaf in southern Iraq Tuesday, surrounded by supporters. In a statement, Sadr promised more violence unless U.S. troops pull out of populated areas and release all Iraqi prisoners. American officials have branded Sadr an outlaw. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

Khalil Naimi, first secretary to the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, is shot and killed in his car by unnamed assailants. The assassination comes as an Iranian delegation is in Iraq to mediate in the standoff between U.S. forces in Najaf and radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Hear NPR's Philip Reeves.

A female member of Iraq's new parliament is assassinated in Baghdad. The killing came as Prime Minister-designate Ibrahim al-Jaafari presented his list of some 30 Cabinet ministers for approval.

Leaders of Iraq's three main factions try to finish drafting a new constitution. The deadline on their one-week extension is midnight Monday. Negotiators have yet to achieve a breakthrough, and there is speculation they might seek another extension.

Amid fighting in several Iraqi cities, an increasing number of foreigners are missing or held hostage by insurgents. Meanwhile, Vice President Cheney goes to Japan as a crisis builds over threats to kill three Japanese who are captive in Iraq. Hear NPR's Philip Reeves and NPR's Rob Gifford.

U.S. Marines have reportedly halted street-to-street battles with insurgents in the Iraqi city of Fallujah. But despite a unilateral U.S. call for a truce, skirmishes continue there and in several other Iraqi cities on the first anniversary of the fall of Baghdad. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

Foreign aid workers, contractors and journalists are increasingly becoming targets of kidnappings across Iraq. The Al-Jazeera news network broadcast a video of a captured American soldier who identifies himself as 20-year-old Pfc. Keith Maupin. An American and a Danish citizen were seized Friday in separate incidents, and dozens have been kidnapped over the past two weeks. Many have been released fairly quickly -- but one, an Italian, was murdered by his captors. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

The battle for control of Fallujah galvanizes anti-American feeling among both Sunnis and Shiites. Large numbers of Iraqi men gather at mosques in Baghdad, bringing material aid and offering their support for the Sunni-dominated city. Hear NPR's Philip Reeves.