Key developments concerning Iraq

Two of Saddam Hussein's daughters took refuge in Jordan. Raghad and Rana Saddam Hussein, whose father had their husbands killed in 1996, arrived in Amman with their nine children. The daughters had been estranged from Saddam for some time, but were believed to have reconciled with their father in recent years.

A U.S. soldier died after his armored personnel carrier hit a mine on the dangerous road from central Baghdad to the city's airport. Three other soldiers were wounded. Also, the military reported the shooting death of a soldier northeast of Baghdad late Wednesday.

The chief U.S. administrator for Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, said a new constitution could be written and accepted by the Iraqi people in a referendum, followed by general elections by the middle of next year. In the past, Bremer has said a government could be in place by the end of 2004.

David Kay, special adviser for the U.S. search for banned weapons in Iraq hinted that U.S. and coalition personnel were close to a breakthrough. He said that there was solid progress and Iraqi scientists were "collaborating and cooperating."

President Bush extended for another year trade sanctions and the freezing of Iraqi government assets.

The Army has generated images of what Saddam could look like after three months on the run, although it did not release the pictures. The images are being provided to soldiers searching for the ousted dictator.

-- AP