The Day in the Gulf

* ANARCHY IN IRAQ: A fundamentalist Islamic uprising has spread anarchy across southern Iraq in the last four days, refugees fleeing the unrest reported. Civilians have emptied political prisons and executed loyalists of President Saddam Hussein, they said. Their accounts indicate that anti-Hussein forces have taken control of seven major cities south of Baghdad in a growing threat to Iraq’s dictatorial regime.

* POWs FREED: Ten allied prisoners of war--six of them Americans--were freed by Iraq in a first step toward meeting truce terms. The freed captives, clad in yellow jumpsuits bearing the letters “PW,” appeared to be in good condition, although one male prisoner’s arm was in a sling and some appeared thin and tired. A Red Cross official said all were given a checkup and were found to be in good health.

* KUWAITI ROYALTY RETURNS: Kuwait’s crown prince, Sheik Saad al Abdullah al Sabah, returned to Kuwait city amid celebratory gunfire. There was no indication when the emir of Kuwait, Sheik Jabbar al Ahmed al Sabah, would return from exile. But Kuwaitis who remained behind when the ruling Sabah family fled the Iraqi invaders said they will expect significant democratic reforms when the rulers return.

* MINE SITES REVEALED: President Bush said Iraq has turned over information about the location of minefields in Kuwait. A day after allied and Iraqi commanders met to lay plans for an official truce, Bush said the disengagement is proceeding quickly and Iraqis are cooperating. He also said he will not relax until all U.S. prisoners of war are home and all those listed as missing in action have been accounted for.

* WAR CRIMES TRIAL: White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater said the United States is “collecting evidence” on war crimes, but it will be up to other countries to initiate any trial of Iraqi officials. “We believe the countries in the region should take the lead,” he said.