The New York Times and Washington Postlead, while the Los Angeles Times devotes its top nonlocal spot to, the House Democrats breaking with their incoming speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and electing Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland to be House majority leader. In a fight that had become increasingly bitter and public, Pelosi was pushing Rep. John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania for the position. But in the end, it wasn't even close and Hoyer got 63 more votes than Murtha.

The WSJ tops its worldwide newsbox with the Iraqi government issuing an arrest warrant for Sheik Harith al-Dhari, one of the most prominent Sunni Arab clerics and head of the influential Muslim Scholars Association. USA Todayleads with word that the war on terror, focused mainly in Afghanistan and Iraq, will likely  cost more than the war in Vietnam, which would make it the most expensive conflict since World War II. Congress has already approved $70 billion for the 2007 fiscal year and the Pentagon is currently considering asking for anywhere from $127 billion to $160 billion more. So far, Congress has approved $502 billion for the war on terror. Notably, USAT reminds its readers that in 2003, the Bush administration estimated the Iraq war would cost $50 billion to $60 billion.

Everybody notes that the election of Hoyer is a sign that in the end, Pelosi really wasn't able to convince that many Democrats. "Basically, she got spanked," a House Democrat tells the Post. The LAT is quick to point out this whole conflict "sent a clear signal of what kind of leader she is: an old-style politician who puts a premium on personal loyalty, even at the risk of high-profile defeat." Both Hoyer and Murtha claimed to have majorities before the vote, showing that it is likely some pledged to support Pelosi but then backed out while casting the secret ballot.

Despite everything, the new leadership team came out of their closed-door meeting, joined hands, and pledged to work together. "Let the healing begin," said Pelosi, who emphasized she stood by her endorsement of Murtha and insisted she does not regret her decision to back him. "I'm not a person of regrets," she pointed out. (Slate'sTimothy Noah is worried about this attitude and urges Democrats to place the speaker on probation). Everyone was all smiles except for Murtha (the WP has the best picture of the scene on Page 1).

James Moran of Virginia didn't seem to get over his bitterness and said, "[T]here are a number of members who can't be trusted," as a reference to those who had pledged to elect Murtha but changed their vote. Apparently he didn't receive the reconciliation memo, because he went on to say that those who voted against Murtha "will be damaged by this," reports the WP.

Despite the pledges from Democrats, all this arguing will not affect their ability to work together, the NYT editorial page  predicts "Pelosi will be dogged by skepticism—from within the party and without—about her political smarts and her ability to deliver a galvanized agenda."

Everyone notes the next big challenge for Pelosi will be choosing a chairman for the Intelligence Committee.

The LAT fronts and the NYT reefers word of the arrest warrant against Dhari, who has been an outspoken critic of the Iraqi government, and is wanted under the charge of inciting violence. The LAT and WSJ note the warrant will likely lead Sunni politicians to, once again, call for a boycott of the government. The NYT points out Iraqi President Jalal Talabani called for an emergency meeting of the country's political leaders in order to try to prevent "the complete collapse of the government."

Meanwhile, there are still unanswered questions about this week's mass kidnappings, which led some Sunni politicians to say the Shiite-led government is covering something up. Even though the government says everyone has been released unharmed, the minister of higher education said as many as 80 people are still being held by the kidnappers. Some of those who were released said they were tortured and that others had been killed.

The LAT goes inside with the U.S. military announcing the deaths of five more U.S. soldiers in Iraq. The NYT mentions reports by ABC News that 14 people traveling in a convoy were kidnapped yesterday, including four Americans.