April 17, 1996

The White House will assert executive privilege and refuse to give Congress a secret internal report on President Clinton's 1994 decision to do nothing about weapons shipments from Iran to Bosnian Muslims, senior Administration officials said today. At least six Congressional committees are contemplating hearings on the President's decision. The claim of executive privilege appears likely to anger Congress and provide ammunition for Mr. Clinton's opponents in the 1996 Presidential election.

As Israel pounded targets in Lebanon for the sixth straight day, this capital staggered today under the social and economic strain of an assault that has all but closed the country's seaports, damaged three power stations and sent hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing their homes. With the country's schools transformed into temporary shelters, the authorities announced that all classes would be curtailed until at least early next week. And as Israeli warships maintained an offshore blockade, the Government advised service stations to ration gasoline sales.

The State Insurance Commissioner, Elizabeth Randall, announced new regulations yesterday barring health and life insurance companies from inquiring whether applicants have ever been victims of domestic violence. The new rules will also prohibit companies from limiting or excluding benefits when a loss results from battering. The regulations were inspired by reports that at least two companies included questions about domestic violence on applications, Ms. Randall said.

In a surprising capitulation on the day before the annual meeting of the RJR Nabisco Holdings Corporation, Bennett S. LeBow conceded defeat yesterday on his slate of 10 company directors. At a news conference in Manhattan, Mr. LeBow said he had been informed by his proxy solicitors that the directors nominated by RJR Nabisco management would be elected in a very low voting turnout of the company's 450,000 shareholders.

The principal of an elementary school here was charged on Monday with sexual assault against a 15-year-old boy, Charles R. Buckley, the Acting Prosecutor for Bergen County announced yesterday. The suspect, John T. Mangan, taught in Ringwood 15 years. He became principal of Peter Cooper Elementary School a decade ago. Mr. Mangan is a resident of Wyckoff, in Bergen County. Mr. Buckley said the assaults took place there over the last year.