GWEN IFILL: Dozens more Iraqis and three American soldiers were killed in new attacks today. Amid the violence, there were rising complaints about security. More than 30 Shiites and Sunnis died in Balad Ruz, when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a cafe.
And at least 22 others were killed as crowds of Shiite pilgrims journeyed to a shrine south of Baghdad. Security was tighter after more than 120 Shiites were killed in the area yesterday.
Shiite leaders today blamed the government for poor security during the pilgrimage. In past years, militiamen loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr kept watch, but they've put away their weapons in the new security crackdown in Baghdad.
In Washington today, Defense Secretary Gates announced he's sending another 2,200 military police to help with an expected increase in detainees. That's on top of the extra 21,000 combat troops.
ROBERT GATES, Secretary of Defense: We have a new commander out there. He's looking at the needs as he proceeds. But so far, the commitments that have been made, in terms of combat support, are within the range that the chairman and I told the Congress in January, plus the new request from Gen. Petraeus on detainee operations.
GWEN IFILL: In another development, there was word today Iran will attend an international conference in Baghdad this weekend. It's intended to bring Iraq's neighbors and others together to try to stop the violence. This will be the first public meeting of American and Iranian envoys since 2004.
The sectarian killing in Iraq has caused a mass exodus in the last year. Many Iraqis have fled across the border to Syria. Once there, they find relative safety, but little else.
We have a report from Julian Manyon of Independent Television News in Damascus.
JULIAN MANYON, ITV News Correspondent: They come in the middle of the night, buses packed with people fleeing the violence in Iraq. About a million Iraqis have fled to Syria, but so far there is no international campaign to help them, and many arriving here end up in despair.
Tens of thousands try to scratch a living in the sprawling slum around what they call "Iraq Street."
Iman Qate and her two children came here late last year. She fled with just 500 pounds in her pocket, after her husband was murdered by sectarian gunmen and her life collapsed around her.
Home is now one bare room with no furniture or TV. The children sit on the floor to do their homework for the Syrian school which has enrolled them. But Iman can only afford to give them one simple meal a day; her money is almost gone.
IMAN QATE, Iraqi Refugee: If the money will run out, what shall I do? Shall I go and beg? I can't do that. I'm sorry, I can't do that.
JULIAN MANYON: Everyday, refugees besiege the U.N. office in Damascus, which, for now, can do little for them.
GWEN IFILL: Since the war began, some four million Iraqis have become refugees, moving within the country or fleeing abroad.
The king of Jordan appealed today for new American efforts at making peace in the Middle East. King Abdullah addressed a joint meeting of Congress. He warned against further delay.
KING ABDULLAH, Jordan: It is time to create a new and different legacy, one that begins right now, one that can set a positive tone for the American and Middle East relationship. Nothing can reach and teach the world's youth more directly than your leadership in a peace process that delivers results, not next year, not in five years, but this year.
GWEN IFILL: King Abdullah also spoke to Jim Lehrer during his Washington visit. We'll have that interview later in the program tonight.
Leaders of a bipartisan panel formally started work today on problems at U.S. military and veterans hospitals. President Bush met with former Sen. Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala.
The president said the panel would work to restore confidence in the system. Later, outside the White House, the co-chairs agreed that job is an urgent one.
DONNA SHALALA, Co-Chair, Commission on U.S. Military and Veterans Hospitals: I think it's an embarrassment to the country. You know, we're bipartisan, and it's important that we all do what we can to make this right and to do it quickly.
BOB DOLE, Co-Chair, Commission on U.S. Military and Veterans Hospitals: The president made it clear, you know, he was going to be personally involved in this commission. It was very important. And he thought, you know, if we came up with good recommendations, it could change the system for the next 30 years.
GWEN IFILL: Seven other members of the presidential commission will be named later this week or early next week. We'll have more on this story right after this news summary.
White House officials played down talk of a pardon today for Lewis "Scooter" Libby. The vice president's former chief of staff was convicted yesterday of perjury and obstruction in the CIA leak case. Democrats warned against a pardon, but White House spokesman Tony Snow said it's way too early to think about that.
TONY SNOW, White House Press Secretary: All of this conversation, speculation about a pardon, I know makes for interesting speculation, but it's just that.
Right now, Scooter Libby and his attorneys have made it clear that they're going to try to get a retrial. If they don't get that, they're going to get an appeal. And we really haven't been commenting on any aspect of it.
As we pointed out before, there is a process, you know, and it's available to anybody who has been convicted in the United States.
GWEN IFILL: For his part, President Bush said today he's sad for Libby, but he told CNN En Espanol that everyone has to respect the verdict.
NASA fired astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak today. A month ago, she allegedly tried to kidnap a romantic rival in a triangle involving another space shuttle pilot. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges. This was the first time the space agency has publicly dismissed an astronaut.
The federal government today accused the Walgreen drug stores of racial bias against black employees. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of workers.
It charged Walgreen makes decisions on assignments and promotions based on race. The company said it's committed to "fairness, diversity and opportunity."
A Georgia truck driver today claimed half of a record lottery jackpot worth $390 million. Ed Nabors held one of the two winning tickets in the multi-state Mega Millions lottery. He took a lump sum payment of $80 million after taxes. They were sold in Woodbine, New Jersey, and Dalton, Georgia. The winner or winners in New Jersey did not immediately come forward.
On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 15 points to close at 12,192. The Nasdaq fell 10 points to close at 2,374.
