May 26, 1997

Debate is under way throughout Iran about what election of Mohammed Khatami will mean; Iranians have never before so clearly rejected will of ruling Shiite Muslim clerics, in 18 years of Islamic rule; near-final results show that Khatami won 69 percent of vote, while mullahs' favorite, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri, took just 25 percent; Iranian businessmen hope that Khatami's openness will lead him to consider reshaping economic system, which is heavily state-oriented and not encouraging to private or foreign investors; Khatami is faced with intimidating restriction on his power: revolutionary Constitution places ultimate power in supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei; photo (M)

The Rangers, plagued by injuries, were eliminated from the playoffs as Philadelphia, a younger team led by Eric Lindros, moved into the Stanley Cup final against the winner of the Colorado Avalanche-Detroit Red Wings series. SportsMonday, page 39.

Graduations Get Personal Writers, actors and politicians were among the speakers at college commencements this year. Some speeches reflect a trend of forgoing talks on issues for personal tales of overcoming adversity. Pages 10-11. Congo Leader's Troubles Since he took over Congo, Laurent Kabila has stirred resentment, cracking down on protests and even women wearing miniskirts. Page 7.

Pataki administration plans to sell off all but tiny fraction of unused buildings and grounds at 20 centers for mentally ill and retarded in New York; proposed sale of parcels totaling almost 10 square miles would be one of largest transfers of public land to private hands in recent New York history; proceeds would be used to help pay off more than $285 million in state bonds on largely unused acres and their decaying buildings; Empire State Development Corp, agency overseeing bidding, says any money left over will go to community programs for retarded and mentally ill; Pataki cautions that sale might not bring in enough money to pay off bonds; photos; maps (M)

French vote heavily for leftist opposition and protest parties, in stinging rebuff to Pres Jacques Chirac's call to renew huge conservative majority in legislature for five more years; Chirac called vote year early to try to win mandate for deficit-cutting policies he says are necessary for France to join common European currency in 1999; but national outpouring of protest has been so powerful that there is chance of Socialist-led leftist majority in Parliament; Prime Min Alain Juppe, who is deeply unpopular, urges supporters to mobilize this week to turn result around in runoff; photos (M)