diff --git a/Include/patchlevel.h b/Include/patchlevel.h
index 01cfed0c748..c9756bad10b 100644
--- a/Include/patchlevel.h
+++ b/Include/patchlevel.h
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@
 #define PY_MINOR_VERSION	0
 #define PY_MICRO_VERSION	0
 #define PY_RELEASE_LEVEL	PY_RELEASE_LEVEL_ALPHA
-#define PY_RELEASE_SERIAL	4
+#define PY_RELEASE_SERIAL	5
 
 /* Version as a string */
-#define PY_VERSION      	"3.0a4+"
+#define PY_VERSION      	"3.0a5"
 /*--end constants--*/
 
 /* Subversion Revision number of this file (not of the repository) */
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/__init__.py b/Lib/distutils/__init__.py
index b583e397e2b..3618c4f7278 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/__init__.py
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ __revision__ = "$Id$"
 #
 
 #--start constants--
-__version__ = "3.0a4"
+__version__ = "3.0a5"
 #--end constants--
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/idlever.py b/Lib/idlelib/idlever.py
index 0a82c9a09d1..73dbc73a546 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/idlever.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/idlever.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-IDLE_VERSION = "3.0a4"
+IDLE_VERSION = "3.0a5"
diff --git a/Misc/RPM/python-3.0.spec b/Misc/RPM/python-3.0.spec
index 25e25ef2f76..bf8873925f0 100644
--- a/Misc/RPM/python-3.0.spec
+++ b/Misc/RPM/python-3.0.spec
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 
 %define name python
 #--start constants--
-%define version 3.0a4
+%define version 3.0a5
 %define libver 3.0
 #--end constants--
 %define release 1pydotorg
diff --git a/README b/README
index b5efc82fad5..b72324f8df3 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-This is Python version 3.0 alpha 4
+This is Python version 3.0 alpha 5
 ==================================
 
 For notes specific to this release, see RELNOTES in this directory.
@@ -70,22 +70,14 @@ the "What's New in Python 3.0" document, found at
 
 Please help write it!
 
-If you want to install multiple versions of Python see the section below
-entitled "Installing multiple versions".
-
-
-What's New Since 3.0a1
-----------------------
-
-Undoubtedly the biggest change is in the bytes type: 'bytes' is now
-immutable, and there is a new mutable bytes type 'bytearray'.  These
-two types are interoperable in every way.  For more info on this
-issue, read PEP 3137.
-
 For a more detailed change log, read Misc/NEWS (though this file, too,
 is incomplete, and also doesn't list anything merged in from the 2.6
 release under development).
 
+If you want to install multiple versions of Python see the section below
+entitled "Installing multiple versions".
+
+
 Proposals for enhancement
 -------------------------
 
@@ -95,13 +87,14 @@ Enhancement Proposal (PEP) may be submitted if your idea gains ground. All
 current PEPs, as well as guidelines for submitting a new PEP, are listed at
 http://www.python.org/dev/peps/.
 
+
 Converting From Python 2.x to 3.0
 ---------------------------------
 
-Python 2.6 (not yet released) will contain features to help locating
-code that needs to be changed, such as optional warnings when
-deprecated features are used, and backported versions of certain key
-Python 3000 features.
+Python 2.6 (to be released concurrent with Python 3.0) will contain features
+to help locating code that needs to be changed, such as optional warnings when
+deprecated features are used, and backported versions of certain key Python
+3000 features.
 
 
 Installing multiple versions
diff --git a/RELNOTES b/RELNOTES
index 1fdb7464f76..763c99d0b94 100644
--- a/RELNOTES
+++ b/RELNOTES
@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ Release notes describe unfinished work in particular releases.
 
 Please report bugs to http://bugs.python.org/.
 
+
+Version 3.0a5 - Release Date 08-May-2008
+----------------------------------------
+
+Please search the bug tracker for critical issues in Python 3.0.
+
+
 Version 3.0a2 - Release Date 07-Dec-2007
 ----------------------------------------