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Liane Hansen discusses U.S. efforts to quell the latest round f violence in the West African nation of Liberia. Her guests are George Moose, ssistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Leonard Robinson, the eputy assistant Secreaty of State for African Affairs during the Bush dministration.

Marius Benson reports from Pretoria that South Africa's government today postponed for a third time provincial elections for the violence-torn region of KwaZulu-Natal (kwah-ZU-LU nah-TALL). Many feared such a move would touch off a political crisis, as the Inkatha Freedom Party had threatened to quit the government of national unity if the vote were put off again. But Inkatha's leader, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi (man-go-SOO-too booduh-LAY-zee), grudgingly accepted the move, which delays the May 29 vote for up to a month. The postponement grew out of concern that escalating violence between Inkatha and the African National Congress would make it impossible to hold the election without significant bloodshed.

What's behind the "discount" in a "discount airline" like ValuJet? NPR's Jim Zarroli reports on how the growing number of no-frills airlines cut their expenses, and whether an airline can lower operating costs without raising questions about safety.

NPR's Ted Clark reports on the Clinton administration's decision to target Chinese textile and electronics manufacturers for trade sanctions. The sanctions -- which would not be imposed for another month, and only if the two sides reach no last-minute agreement -- are meant to retaliate for China's alleged piracy of American movies, CDs, and software.

NPR's Dan Charles reports that airline safety experts say that there are limits to how safe airline travel can be. As the number of flights increase, and the complexity of safety precautions multiply, experts say there is a ceiling to how low the accident rate can go.

A re-broadcast of Noah Adams reading some of the obituaries of victims of the Murrah Federal Office Building bombing which appeared in the Daily Oklahoman five days after the explosion in Oklahoma City.

NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports that Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole announced today that he will leave the U.S. Senate to pursue his presidential campaign full-time. Dole's surprising announcement came after weeks of debate within the Republican party and the Dole campaign about whether his candidacy was better served from the floor of the Senate or out on the campaign trail. However, a series of legislative setbacks for the Republicans apparently convinced Dole that giving up his Senate seat would be the best route to take.

LEBANON - NPR's Eric Weiner reports from Jerusalem that Israel regretted mistakenly shelling a United Nations base which was sheltering Lebanese civilians. But Prime Minister Shimon Peres and other officials defended their right to fire artillery shells at positions of the Hizbollah guerrillas. They pointed out that Hezbollah had fired Katyusha rockets toward Israel from a position just three hundred meters from the U-N base.

Robert Siegel speaks with Martin Lee about China's takeover of Hong Kong in July of next year. Mr. Lee is an elected legislative counselor and chair of the Democratic Party in Hong Kong. Mr. Lee says China is backing away from promises it made in an agreement with Britain in 1984, to allow Hong Kong's autonomy and to permit democratic rule. He is in the United States to appeal for support for a democratic, independent Hong Kong.

The PUZZLE INTERNET ADDRESS is puzzle@npr.org.