January 24, 1997

Atty Gen Janet Reno criticizes Saudi Arabia for failing to cooperate in investigation into terrorist bombing last June in Dhahran that killed 19 US airmen; says Saudi Government has failed to turn over 'very important information' from investigation; her remarks mark shift for Clinton Administration after senior officials had for months praised Saudi monarchy for pledging full cooperation in inquiry; FBI Dir Louis J Freeh has complained that Saudis have provided little more than 'hearsay' that made it impossible to evaluate evidence; Freeh's and Reno's comments reflect deep antagonism within their agencies against Saudi authorities (M)

Increasingly belligerent group called Republic of Texas has decreed that Texas is sovereign nation that is at war with US; group's leader, Richard McLaren, is holed up in tin-shed 'Embassy' in Fort Davis protected by armed guards; some of demands of group border on comical; it wants to receive $92 trillion in 'war reparations' from Federal Government, and it has 'ordered' Gov George W Bush and all state legislators to vacate Capitol building in Austin; some of its actions are not so funny; members of group have filed thousands of bogus liens in courthouses across state, clogging small-town courts and creating financial and legal headaches for businesses and state officials; they have passed at least $3 million in worthless checks; Federal officials have taken low-key approach to dealing with McLaren, mindful of deadly results when Federal agents went to Branch Dividian compound in Waco; map; photo of McLaren with his security chief Chris Leonard and another aide, Karen Joy Coffey Kosier (M)

Anna Kisselgoff reviews New York City Ballet's performance of Brandenburg, major new work by Jerome Robbins; photos (M)

Michael Kimmelman reviews Metropolitan Museum exhibit of paintings by Giambattista Tiepolo; photos (M)

New Jersey Senate committee releases bill requiring State Division of Youth and Family Services, which oversees families on public assistance, to open its files to family members and local officials; acts after hearing story of Cleaveland Ross, whose 2-year-old granddaughter was beaten to death Jan 4; shortly before murder, Ross warned state agency in charge of girl's welfare that she was in danger and demanded to know what was being done to protect her; agency told Ross that its records were confidential; bill would also creatd independent board to review all cases where children in agency's care die or are seriously injured (M)