July 29, 1998

Post-election battle lines begin forming in Cambodia with party of incumbent strongman, Hun Sen, claiming victory, and his two opposition rivals crying fraud and threatening to block formation of new government; with only a tiny fraction of vote count released, country appears to be entering a tense and possibly chaotic period of protests and maneuvering by all sides, including two main opposition candidates, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy; photo of Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy (M)

Serious security flaw is discovered in popular E-mail programs published by Microsoft Corp and Netscape Communications Corp that would permit malicious person to send a message containing virus that could crash a computer and destroy or even steal data; so far, security tests have shown that flaw exists in three of four most popular E-mail programs, used by perhaps tens of millions of people around world: Microsoft's Outlook Express and Outlook 98 and Netscape Mail, part of Netscape Communicator's suite of Internet program; while Microsoft is already providing fixes, flaw is particularly worrisome in its Outlook 98 program, which combines E-mail with scheduler, contact list and other features; drawings (L)

Whitney Museum of American Art appoints Maxwell L Anderson director, succeeding David A Ross; Joel S Ehrenkranz, board president and chairman of search committee, says he was chosen to bring more scholarly approach to museum's exhibitions and programs; Anderson, grandson of playwright Maxwell Anderson and son of Columbia University literature professor, says he hopes to help in defining character of American art in more international arena; appointment comes three months after Whitney unveiled $30 million renovation and expansion that includes new galleries, first dedicated to permanent collection of 67-year-old museum; photo (M)

Analysis of settlement of strike against General Motors Corp, whose most intriguing element is provision calling for leaders of GM and UAW to meet periodically to discuss their differences; says it is a sign of how poorly they get along that this is being hailed as important accomplishment; map; photo (M)

Alex Witchel says menus at many Manhattan's restaurants have become puzzling documents, listing such obscure and exotic ingredients that diners often have no clue as to what they are ordering; says 1980's menu as treasure hunt has given way to menu as literary Rorschach test; drawing (M)