diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2df590c..e5d83e3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 # zubat (18feb07) - 1.7
 # amy (10jun07) - 1.7.1
 # basil (21jan08) - 1.7.2
+# clara (23mar08) - 1.7.3
 
 
 ifeq ($(wildcard /sbin/md5),/sbin/md5)
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@ release: docs
 	python ./setup.py bdist_egg
 	zip -r dist/docs.zip docs && rm -rf docs
 	cd dist && $(MD5SUM) paramiko*.zip *.gz > md5-sums
+	cd dist && gpg -ba paramiko*.zip
+	cd dist && gpg -ba paramiko*.gz
 	
 
 docs: always
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 621e0a8..c0a2f88 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -8,6 +8,22 @@ Highlights of what's new in each release:
 Releases
 ========
 
+v1.7.3 (Clara) 23mar08
+----------------------
+  * SSHClient can be asked not to use an SSH agent now, and not to search
+    for private keys
+  * added WarningPolicy option for SSHClient (warn, but allow, on unknown
+    server keys)
+  * added Channel.exit_status_ready to poll if a channel has received an
+    exit status yet
+  * new demo for reverse port forwarding
+  * (bug 177117) fix UTF-8 passwords
+  * (bug 189466) fix typo in osrandom.py
+  * (bug 191657) potentially fix a race at channel shutdown
+  * (bug 192749) document that SSHClient.connect may raise socket.error
+  * (bug 193779) translate EOFError into AuthException during authentication
+  * (bug 200416) don't create a new logger object for each channel
+
 v1.7.2 (Basil) 21jan08
 ----------------------
   * (bug 137219) catch EINTR and handle correctly
diff --git a/README b/README
index dcf76ff..f1a85b0 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ paramiko
 :Homepage: http://www.lag.net/paramiko/
 
 
-paramiko 1.7.2
+paramiko 1.7.3
 ==============
 
-"Basil" release, 21 january 2008
+"Clara" release, 23 march 2008
 
 
 What
diff --git a/paramiko/__init__.py b/paramiko/__init__.py
index 058ca53..7a83ce8 100644
--- a/paramiko/__init__.py
+++ b/paramiko/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (C) 2003-2007  Robey Pointer <robey@lag.net>
+# Copyright (C) 2003-2008  Robey Pointer <robey@lag.net>
 #
 # This file is part of paramiko.
 #
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ released under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL).
 
 Website: U{http://www.lag.net/paramiko/}
 
-@version: 1.7.2 (Basil)
+@version: 1.7.3 (Clara)
 @author: Robey Pointer
 @contact: robey@lag.net
 @license: GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ if sys.version_info < (2, 2):
 
 
 __author__ = "Robey Pointer <robey@lag.net>"
-__date__ = "21 Jan 2008"
-__version__ = "1.7.3 (C...)"
-__version_info__ = (1, 7, 2)
+__date__ = "23 Mar 2008"
+__version__ = "1.7.3 (Clara)"
+__version_info__ = (1, 7, 3)
 __license__ = "GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)"
 
 
diff --git a/paramiko/transport.py b/paramiko/transport.py
index af4c307..5bfc989 100644
--- a/paramiko/transport.py
+++ b/paramiko/transport.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class Transport (threading.Thread):
     """
 
     _PROTO_ID = '2.0'
-    _CLIENT_ID = 'paramiko_1.7.2'
+    _CLIENT_ID = 'paramiko_1.7.3'
 
     _preferred_ciphers = ( 'aes128-cbc', 'blowfish-cbc', 'aes256-cbc', '3des-cbc' )
     _preferred_macs = ( 'hmac-sha1', 'hmac-md5', 'hmac-sha1-96', 'hmac-md5-96' )
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 07e4ffd..5411e3d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@ if sys.platform == 'darwin':
 
 
 setup(name = "paramiko",
-      version = "1.7.2",
+      version = "1.7.3",
       description = "SSH2 protocol library",
       author = "Robey Pointer",
       author_email = "robey@lag.net",
       url = "http://www.lag.net/paramiko/",
       packages = [ 'paramiko' ],
-      download_url = 'http://www.lag.net/paramiko/download/paramiko-1.7.2.zip',
+      download_url = 'http://www.lag.net/paramiko/download/paramiko-1.7.3.zip',
       license = 'LGPL',
       platforms = 'Posix; MacOS X; Windows',
       classifiers = [ 'Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable',