diff --git a/integration/pom.xml b/integration/pom.xml
index 03f0af9f..ecbf85de 100644
--- a/integration/pom.xml
+++ b/integration/pom.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    	<version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    	<version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/jcl-over-slf4j/pom.xml b/jcl-over-slf4j/pom.xml
index 12bea5ca..884d25a1 100644
--- a/jcl-over-slf4j/pom.xml
+++ b/jcl-over-slf4j/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/jcl104-over-slf4j/pom.xml b/jcl104-over-slf4j/pom.xml
index 05deb51c..c63e906d 100644
--- a/jcl104-over-slf4j/pom.xml
+++ b/jcl104-over-slf4j/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/jul-to-slf4j/pom.xml b/jul-to-slf4j/pom.xml
index 6957bec4..51b36a2a 100644
--- a/jul-to-slf4j/pom.xml
+++ b/jul-to-slf4j/pom.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    	<version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    	<version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/log4j-over-slf4j/pom.xml b/log4j-over-slf4j/pom.xml
index 201dc468..63b64c0c 100644
--- a/log4j-over-slf4j/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-over-slf4j/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
   </parent>
 
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/osgi-over-slf4j/pom.xml b/osgi-over-slf4j/pom.xml
index e7644398..35f2ccb3 100644
--- a/osgi-over-slf4j/pom.xml
+++ b/osgi-over-slf4j/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
   </parent>
   
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 25eb1bf1..0287538f 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 	<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 	<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-	<version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+	<version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 
 	<packaging>pom</packaging>
 	<name>SLF4J</name>
diff --git a/slf4j-api/pom.xml b/slf4j-api/pom.xml
index cf1b7493..4304c575 100644
--- a/slf4j-api/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-api/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
   </parent>
 
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-api/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java b/slf4j-api/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
index 1c547069..bbf2fe50 100644
--- a/slf4j-api/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
+++ b/slf4j-api/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class StaticLoggerBinder {
    * The value of this field is usually modified with each release. 
    */
   // to avoid constant folding by the compiler, this field must *not* be final
-  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9";  // !final
+  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9-RC0";  // !final
   
   private StaticLoggerBinder() {
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("This code should have never made it into the jar");
diff --git a/slf4j-ext/pom.xml b/slf4j-ext/pom.xml
index 2568961e..e2e99944 100644
--- a/slf4j-ext/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-ext/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
   </parent>
 
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-jcl/pom.xml b/slf4j-jcl/pom.xml
index 44047d5a..d67aae59 100644
--- a/slf4j-jcl/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-jcl/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-		<version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+		<version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-jcl/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java b/slf4j-jcl/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
index 4e04eab7..767809a2 100644
--- a/slf4j-jcl/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
+++ b/slf4j-jcl/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public class StaticLoggerBinder implements LoggerFactoryBinder {
    */ 
   
   //to avoid constant folding by the compiler, this field must *not* be final
-  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9";  
+  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9-RC0";  
   
   // Binding specific code:
   private static final String loggerFactoryClassStr = JCLLoggerFactory.class
diff --git a/slf4j-jdk14/pom.xml b/slf4j-jdk14/pom.xml
index 8e5eb0fe..0fd8f010 100644
--- a/slf4j-jdk14/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-jdk14/pom.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    	<version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    	<version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-jdk14/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java b/slf4j-jdk14/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
index 539b9ac8..0ecce2ca 100644
--- a/slf4j-jdk14/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
+++ b/slf4j-jdk14/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public class StaticLoggerBinder implements LoggerFactoryBinder {
    * The value of this field is usually modified with each release. 
    */
   // to avoid constant folding by the compiler, this field must *not* be final
-  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9";  // !final
+  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9-RC0";  // !final
 
   
   private static final String loggerFactoryClassStr = org.slf4j.impl.JDK14LoggerFactory.class.getName();
diff --git a/slf4j-log4j12/pom.xml b/slf4j-log4j12/pom.xml
index 03ac84a1..10e0a07c 100644
--- a/slf4j-log4j12/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-log4j12/pom.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-log4j12/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java b/slf4j-log4j12/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
index e9440d13..916959e8 100644
--- a/slf4j-log4j12/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
+++ b/slf4j-log4j12/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public class StaticLoggerBinder implements LoggerFactoryBinder {
    * against. The value of this field is usually modified with each release.
    */
   // to avoid constant folding by the compiler, this field must *not* be final
-  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9"; // !final
+  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9-RC0"; // !final
 
   private static final String loggerFactoryClassStr = Log4jLoggerFactory.class
       .getName();
diff --git a/slf4j-migrator/pom.xml b/slf4j-migrator/pom.xml
index 0f9e206a..b8c02e16 100644
--- a/slf4j-migrator/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-migrator/pom.xml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 	<parent>
 	  <groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
       <artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-      <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+      <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-nop/pom.xml b/slf4j-nop/pom.xml
index dd315044..d1e05de7 100644
--- a/slf4j-nop/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-nop/pom.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    	<version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    	<version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-nop/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java b/slf4j-nop/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
index 6c149765..9d1d5300 100644
--- a/slf4j-nop/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
+++ b/slf4j-nop/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public class StaticLoggerBinder  implements LoggerFactoryBinder {
    * The value of this field is usually modified with each release. 
    */
   // to avoid constant folding by the compiler, this field must *not* be final
-  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9";  // !final
+  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9-RC0";  // !final
   
   private static final String loggerFactoryClassStr = NOPLoggerFactory.class.getName();
 
diff --git a/slf4j-osgi-integration-test/pom.xml b/slf4j-osgi-integration-test/pom.xml
index 90df0987..fe5a2871 100644
--- a/slf4j-osgi-integration-test/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-osgi-integration-test/pom.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-		<version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+		<version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-osgi-test-bundle/pom.xml b/slf4j-osgi-test-bundle/pom.xml
index 86995e90..4c446e5a 100644
--- a/slf4j-osgi-test-bundle/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-osgi-test-bundle/pom.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-		<version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+		<version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-simple/pom.xml b/slf4j-simple/pom.xml
index ad2a0ce2..b5a1d1ff 100644
--- a/slf4j-simple/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-simple/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
   </parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-simple/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java b/slf4j-simple/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
index 9f89f4dd..9bb729c2 100644
--- a/slf4j-simple/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
+++ b/slf4j-simple/src/main/java/org/slf4j/impl/StaticLoggerBinder.java
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public class StaticLoggerBinder implements LoggerFactoryBinder {
    * against. The value of this field is usually modified with each release.
    */
   // to avoid constant folding by the compiler, this field must *not* be final
-  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9";  // !final
+  public static String REQUESTED_API_VERSION = "1.5.9-RC0";  // !final
   
   private static final String loggerFactoryClassStr = SimpleLoggerFactory.class.getName();
 
diff --git a/slf4j-site/pom.xml b/slf4j-site/pom.xml
index b1d41ec5..c0ce3496 100644
--- a/slf4j-site/pom.xml
+++ b/slf4j-site/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
 		<artifactId>slf4j-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>1.5.9-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>1.5.9-RC0</version>
 	</parent>
 	
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/slf4j-site/src/site/pages/news.html b/slf4j-site/src/site/pages/news.html
index 71d30059..d9e83614 100644
--- a/slf4j-site/src/site/pages/news.html
+++ b/slf4j-site/src/site/pages/news.html
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
   <hr noshade="noshade" size="1"/>
 
-  <h3>XX, 2009 - Release of SLF4J 1.5.9-RC0</h3>
+  <h3>4th of September, 2009 - Release of SLF4J 1.5.9-RC0</h3>
 
   <p>SLF4J version 1.5.9 consist of bug fixes and minor
   enhancements. It is totally backward compatible with SLF4J version
@@ -37,11 +37,6 @@
   support as a thin layer built upon the <a
   href="http://cal10n.qos.ch">CAL10N API</a>.</p>
 
-
-  <p>Added <a href="localization.html">localized/internationalized
-  logging</a> support as a thin layer built upon the <a
-  href="http://cal10n.qos.ch">CAL10N API</a>.</p>
-
   <p>In log4j-over-slf4j, added missing log(...)  methods. These were
   requested by Zoltan Szel in <a
   href="http://bugzilla.slf4j.org/show_bug.cgi?id=139">bug report