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Human rights activists are increasingly concerned about the prospects for fraud and abuse in next week's Afghan presidential elections. They say the greatest threat is voter intimidation by the country's ubiquitous warlords. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

Last December, Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf pledged to step down as head of the army at the end of 2004 and move the country back toward democratic government. But now Musharraf says voters want him keep his military post, fueling doubts he'll resign. Hear NPR's Philip Reeves.

Saddam Hussein and 11 senior officials of his deposed regime are transferred into the legal custody of the Iraqi interim government, though they remain guarded by U.S. forces. Saddam will appear in court Thursday, where he faces charges including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Hear NPR's Philip Reeves.

Relief assistance is only beginning to reach South Asian regions hardest hit by Saturday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake. While hundreds of millions of dollars in aid has been offered, impassable roads, rain and a shortage of helicopters have slowed relief deliveries to survivors.

A draft constitution has been presented to Iraq's National Assembly. But there was no vote, and discussions on its contents are ongoing. The news came six minutes before the midnight deadline. Minority Sunni representatives have threatened to hold up final approval.

Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr calls for calm after violent clashes between his supporters and a rival militia. This rift within Iraq's Shia erupted at an acutely sensitive time -- Iraq's politicians are supposed to agree on a draft constitution by midnight Thursday.

A year ago, people who predicted that Iraq was headed toward a Shia-Sunni civil war were scoffed at by supporters of the U.S.-led invasion. But sectarian strife appears to be on the rise in Baghdad.

The U.S. steps up efforts to ensure the January elections for a transitional assembly are held on time, despite the intensifying insurgency in Iraq's Sunni Muslim heartland. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

An Iraqi special tribunal turns its focus to procedural details needed to set up prosecutions of Saddam Hussein and senior officials of his former regime. A decision has been made to lift a ban on the death penalty in Iraq. Meanwhile, insurgents target two hotels in central Baghdad. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Philip Reeves.

In Pakistan, authorities are looking for a missing reporter. Hayatullah Khan was kidnapped on Monday by militants after reporting the death of a top al Qaeda commander.