"The Archives of Evil"

Cover story: Mass graves, documents brought to light, confessions - every further day of freedom makes it clearer what horrors the Iraqis were subject to. Saddam Hussein and his sons ruled through torture and mass murder, indulging themselves in perverse luxury. Now the servants of the despots are starting to talk, cautiously as yet for fear of revenge, but their stories are merging to produce a picture of horror. Not only the henchmen are speaking out, the victims too; and not only those who survived but also the dead in the mass graves testify to 24 years of Saddam's regime which will be compared in the history books to the atrocities of Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot.

"Always at the Leader's Side"

How German companies, trade associations and public authorities cultivated their relations with the dictator.

"Dead Life"

When his parents and his brother disappeared into Saddam's dungeons, Heidar was 14 years old. He searched for them for twelve years - then he went to the mass grave of Hilla. In Hilla, word is being passed on from one person to the next, in whispers: there were witnesses in September 1991. The Republican Guard had two buses, three times a day the buses drove to the fields outside the village. The prisoners had to get out and then the soldiers gave them spades, then they had to dig and eventually climb down inside, the shots rang out and then the soldiers filled up the graves again.

"The Convention Has Failed"

SPIEGEL in-depth interview with Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg prime minister and potential candidate for the office of EU president, about the faults of the draft for a European constitution presented by the convention:

"When the contract is signed, the citizens of Europe have the right to know who will be responsible for what, in what form and from when onwards. Only an insider can glean that from the documents presented."

"We Take Risks Seriously"

SPIEGEL in-depth interview with Otmar Issing, chief economist at the European Central Bank, about the historically low interest rates, fears of deflation and the future of the European stability pact:

"We think that maintaining the stability of prices is the best prerequisite for securing growth and jobs. Savers and investors can only plan securely on the basis of stable prices. Also: if prices go up, for example, then demand suffers. People lack purchasing power. ... The reactions in Germany are almost Pavlovian. As soon as the word "crisis" let alone "deflation" is heard, images of 1929/30 immediately arise. To my mind that comparison is as absurd as the one with Japan. ... The stability pact still plays an important role, and it will continue to do so."

Report on the German Al Qaida suspect Christian G, who was arrested in France.

Report on the debate over the world-wide deployment of German soldiers.

"Twilight in the Realm of the King"

Afghanistan: Attacks on the Isaf troops, on foreigners and members of the government, riots in the provinces - Afghanistan is facing its toughest test since the fall of the Taliban regime. The government in Kabul does not have the power to challenge the warlords in the provinces. Particularly the Americans are impeding the government in Kabul in its efforts to gain greater influence in the provinces, because in the battle against the scattered Al Qaida groups and Taliban warriors, the US administration is placing its hopes in the know-how of the regional lords and their officers.

"Disney Lies to Children"

SPIEGEL interview with Japanese film director Hayao Miyazaki about realism in children's entertainment and the world-wide success of his latest cartoon "Chihiro's Journey to the Land of Magic":

"The traditional distinction between films and cartoons hardly makes sense anymore anyway: so-called 'representational' films, in which nowadays the images are usually manipulated by computers, are coming closer and closer to animated films; the boundaries are becoming blurred. ... Although I primarily make my films for the Japanese audience - and that will remain so in future, too - at the same time my stories are about issues of fate that affect all of humanity, for instance when children lose their joy in life, or our consumer society destroys itself."

"A Diva in Blue Jeans"

Opera: She has already been celebrated in the USA, England and Salzburg; now the soprano Anna Netrebko is coming to Munich, just as her first CD is being released. Critics are already describing the beautiful Russian as one of the great stars of the century, in a league with Callas.

"Like an Addiction"

Interview with physician Aglaja Stirn about the risks involved in piercing:

"These days, about one in five German youngsters between the ages of 15 and 25 has a tattoo or a body piercing. Among American college students it's almost one in two. ... Thirty percent of piercings and tattoos done by professionals result in complications such as inflammations or allergies. For procedures that are done at home, the incidence is as high as 70 percent. ... Almost every human society is familiar with piercing in one form or another. ... My travels have shown me that body modifications cannot simply be dismissed as a trend in fashion."

"Whaling Battle in Berlin"

Animal conservation: The International Whaling Commission may be put to a real test at this year's conference. Never before has the rift between whale hunters and whale conservationists been so deep. Following Japan and Norway, Iceland too now wants to return to killing the marine mammals. Does whale tourism offer a possible way out? "The whales generate high profits," says Asbjörn Björgvinsson, the chairman of Iceland's Whale Watching Association, happily. Over the past seven years, the number of whale tourists visiting Iceland has multiplied thirtyfold. However, finding a common denominator in the negotiations promises to be more difficult than ever this year. In the case of Iceland, at any rate, a storm seems to be brewing. Ultimately, whalers cannot be turned into conservationists. The commitment to whaling is, for many, a matter of "national honour".

"Turkeys into Petroleum"

Environment: A US company has developed a plant for converting slaughterhouse waste, plastic refuse and old computers into oil and other raw materials. The first such factory has already taken up operation. Now the company is looking for customers around the world - particularly in Germany.

"Indulging in Life"

Cars: Ford and Renault only manufacture their compact vans as five-seaters. Is the additional row of seats in the vans made by Volkswagen and Opel perhaps not crash-proof?

"The Glass Chin and the Charmer"

Boxing: For Witalij Klitschko, the fight against Lennox Lewis for the world championship title is the chance of his lifetime. However if he loses, the Ukrainian heavyweight boxer's career could be at stake - as well as that of his promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl.