diff --git a/sleekxmpp/plugins/xep_0060/pubsub.py b/sleekxmpp/plugins/xep_0060/pubsub.py
index e1f2025..627ad37 100644
--- a/sleekxmpp/plugins/xep_0060/pubsub.py
+++ b/sleekxmpp/plugins/xep_0060/pubsub.py
@@ -282,9 +282,8 @@ class xep_0060(base_plugin):
         iq['pubsub_owner']['configure']['form'].values = config.values
         return iq.send(block=block, callback=callback, timeout=timeout)
 
-    def publish(self, jid, node, item_id=None, payload=None, items=None,
-                options=None, ifrom=None, block=True, callback=None,
-                timeout=None):
+    def publish(self, jid, node, id=None, payload=None, options=None,
+                ifrom=None, block=True, callback=None, timeout=None):
         """
         Add or edit items in a node.
 
@@ -294,21 +293,14 @@ class xep_0060(base_plugin):
         """
         iq = self.xmpp.Iq(sto=jid, sfrom=ifrom, stype='set')
         iq['pubsub']['publish']['node'] = node
-
-        if items is None:
-            items = []
-        if item_id is not None:
-            items.insert(0, (item_id, payload))
-        for id, payload in items:
-            item = stanza.pubsub.Item()
-            if id is not None:
-                item['id'] = id
-            item['payload'] = payload
-            iq['pubsub']['publish'].append(item)
+        if id is not None:
+            iq['pubsub']['publish']['item']['id'] = id
+        if payload is not None:
+            iq['pubsub']['publish']['item']['payload'] = payload
         iq['pubsub']['publish_options'] = options
         return iq.send(block=block, callback=callback, timeout=timeout)
 
-    def retract(self, jid, node, item_id, ifrom=None, block=True,
+    def retract(self, jid, node, id, ifrom=None, block=True,
                 callback=None, timeout=None):
         """
         Delete a single item from a node.
@@ -316,7 +308,7 @@ class xep_0060(base_plugin):
         iq = self.xmpp.Iq(sto=jid, sfrom=ifrom, stype='set')
 
         iq['pubsub']['retract']['node'] = node
-        iq['pubsub']['retract']['item']['id'] = item_id
+        iq['pubsub']['retract']['item']['id'] = id
         return iq.send(block=block, callback=callback, timeout=timeout)
 
     def purge(self, jid, node, ifrom=None, block=True, callback=None,
diff --git a/sleekxmpp/plugins/xep_0060/stanza/pubsub.py b/sleekxmpp/plugins/xep_0060/stanza/pubsub.py
index c370aeb..9f3fbe2 100644
--- a/sleekxmpp/plugins/xep_0060/stanza/pubsub.py
+++ b/sleekxmpp/plugins/xep_0060/stanza/pubsub.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ registerStanzaPlugin(Pubsub, Create)
 #
 #registerStanzaPlugin(Pubsub, Default)
 
-class Publish(Items):
+class Publish(ElementBase):
     namespace = 'http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub'
     name = 'publish'
     plugin_attrib = name
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ class Publish(Items):
     subitem = (Item,)
 
 registerStanzaPlugin(Pubsub, Publish)
+registerStanzaPlugin(Publish, Item)
 
 class Retract(ElementBase):
     namespace = 'http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub'
diff --git a/tests/test_stream_xep_0060.py b/tests/test_stream_xep_0060.py
index a9099b3..626cea9 100644
--- a/tests/test_stream_xep_0060.py
+++ b/tests/test_stream_xep_0060.py
@@ -359,6 +359,20 @@ class TestStreamPubsub(SleekTest):
           </iq>
         """)
 
+    def testPublishNoItems(self):
+        """Test publishing no items (in order to generate events)"""
+        self.xmpp['xep_0060'].publish(
+            'pubsub.example.com',
+            'somenode',
+            block=False)
+        self.send("""
+          <iq type="set" id="1" to="pubsub.example.com">
+            <pubsub xmlns="http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub">
+              <publish node="somenode" />
+            </pubsub>
+          </iq>
+        """)
+
     def testPublishSingle(self):
         """Test publishing a single item."""
         payload = AtomEntry()
@@ -369,14 +383,14 @@ class TestStreamPubsub(SleekTest):
         self.xmpp['xep_0060'].publish(
             'pubsub.example.com',
             'somenode',
-            item_id='ID42',
+            id='id42',
             payload=payload,
             block=False)
         self.send("""
           <iq type="set" id="1" to="pubsub.example.com">
             <pubsub xmlns="http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub">
               <publish node="somenode">
-                <item id="ID42">
+                <item id="id42">
                   <entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
                     <title>Test</title>
                   </entry>
@@ -403,7 +417,7 @@ class TestStreamPubsub(SleekTest):
         self.xmpp['xep_0060'].publish(
             'pubsub.example.com',
             'somenode',
-            item_id='ID42',
+            id='ID42',
             payload=payload,
             options=options,
             block=False)
@@ -431,94 +445,6 @@ class TestStreamPubsub(SleekTest):
           </iq>
         """, use_values=False)
 
-    def testPublishMulti(self):
-        """Test publishing multiple items."""
-        payload1 = AtomEntry()
-        payload1['title'] = 'Test 1'
-
-        payload2 = AtomEntry()
-        payload2['title'] = 'Test 2'
-
-        register_stanza_plugin(self.xmpp['xep_0060'].stanza.Item, AtomEntry)
-
-        self.xmpp['xep_0060'].publish(
-            'pubsub.example.com',
-            'somenode',
-            items=[('ID1', payload1),
-                   ('ID2', payload2)],
-            block=False)
-        self.send("""
-          <iq type="set" id="1" to="pubsub.example.com">
-            <pubsub xmlns="http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub">
-              <publish node="somenode">
-                <item id="ID1">
-                  <entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
-                    <title>Test 1</title>
-                  </entry>
-                </item>
-                <item id="ID2">
-                  <entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
-                    <title>Test 2</title>
-                  </entry>
-                </item>
-              </publish>
-            </pubsub>
-          </iq>
-        """, use_values=False)
-
-    def testPublishMultiOptions(self):
-        """Test publishing multiple items, with options."""
-        payload1 = AtomEntry()
-        payload1['title'] = 'Test 1'
-
-        payload2 = AtomEntry()
-        payload2['title'] = 'Test 2'
-
-        register_stanza_plugin(self.xmpp['xep_0060'].stanza.Item, AtomEntry)
-
-        options = self.xmpp['xep_0004'].make_form()
-        options.add_field(var='FORM_TYPE', ftype='hidden',
-              value='http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub#publish-options')
-        options.add_field(var='pubsub#access_model', ftype='text-single',
-              value='presence')
-        options['type'] = 'submit'
-
-        self.xmpp['xep_0060'].publish(
-            'pubsub.example.com',
-            'somenode',
-            items=[('ID1', payload1),
-                   ('ID2', payload2)],
-            options=options,
-            block=False)
-        self.send("""
-          <iq type="set" id="1" to="pubsub.example.com">
-            <pubsub xmlns="http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub">
-              <publish node="somenode">
-                <item id="ID1">
-                  <entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
-                    <title>Test 1</title>
-                  </entry>
-                </item>
-                <item id="ID2">
-                  <entry xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
-                    <title>Test 2</title>
-                  </entry>
-                </item>
-              </publish>
-              <publish-options>
-                <x xmlns="jabber:x:data" type="submit">
-                  <field var="FORM_TYPE">
-                    <value>http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub#publish-options</value>
-                  </field>
-                  <field var="pubsub#access_model">
-                    <value>presence</value>
-                  </field>
-                </x>
-              </publish-options>
-            </pubsub>
-          </iq>
-        """, use_values=False)
-
     def testRetract(self):
         """Test deleting an item."""
         self.xmpp['xep_0060'].retract(