We describe particle production in the framework of an independent string model: the dual parton model. We show that an improved version of this model, containing a diquark breaking component, allows to describe the bulk of particle production and, in particular, baryon stopping and most of the observed enhancement of strange baryons. Only for very rare processes, such as {\Omega } or J/\psi production, the model has to be supplemented with final state interaction (comovers interaction). Recent data on event--by--event fluctuations in p_T are also described by the model. Predictions for RHIC and LHC are presented and the effect of nuclear shadowing is discussed.

PACS numbers: 12.40.--y, 25.75.--q, 12.38.Mh