November 21, 1997

United States immigration officials inform 28 Delta airlines flight attendants from Poland that their work visas were issued by mistake, and that they and their families must leave country within two weeks--even though they have no jobs back in Poland, and in many cases no homes; Delta execs say that they are sorry to lose their workers, but that they have exhausted their efforts to appeal decision; photo (M)

No one can say exactly what awaits Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey, new parents of septulets in Iowa; seven live babies have never before been born to American couple; multiple-birth parents and experts on growing phenomenon says McCaugheys are going to need phalanxes of help, and even with it they will drag from one sort of exhaustion to another for long time; while there has been occasional family tragedies associated with multiple births, most of parents say rewards are well worth burdens; photos (M)

Some smokers puff away during the Great American Smokeout. PAGE B3

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was created in 1994 to prosecute people accused of organizing massacre of over 500,000 Tutsi in Rwanda; three years later, tribunal has yet to convict single defendant; last of 27 prosecution witnesses has testified against Jean-Paul Akayesu, former Mayor of Rwandan commune of Taba; he is first defendant to come before court; at current rate it will take over 20 years to try 35 people who have been indicted; suspects include some of highest-ranking officials in Hutu-controlled Government that organized massacres, among them Prime Min Jean Kambanda and Deputy Min of Defense Theoneste Bagosora; slow pace of justice at tribunal has drawn fire from Tutsi-controlled Government in Rwanda and several countries at United Nations; map; photo (M)

Keith Martin Autos column on history and collecting of Volkswagen Beetles, Hitler's 'people's car' that became flower-power vehicle of 1960's; photos; new version to appear next year will have engine up front, cooling system that uses water and price tag, $18,000-$22,000, sure to scandalize Bug drivers of old (M)