May 17, 1999

Revolt Against Mrs. Gandhi Congress party officials asked Sonia Gandhi, the Italian born widow who is its leader, not to seek the prime ministership, citing foreign birth and lack of political experience. PAGE A9. New Phone Giant Is Planned U S West and Global Crossing are expected to announce a telecommunications merger valued at about $37 billion aimed at creating a rival to AT&T. PAGE A18

Yitzhak Mordechai and Benny Begin withdraw from election contest for Prime Minister in stunning turn of events day before May 17 Israeli election, probably paving way for conclusive victory by Labor Party candidate Ehud Barak over incumbent Prime Min Benjamin Netanyahu; Mordechai, former Defense Minister and leader of Center Party, endorses Barak; says Netanyahu must be defeated; Benny Begin, leader of ultra-nationalist coalition who felt Netanyahu betrayed supporters by turning over West Bank land to Palestinians, declines to throw support to Netanyahu; their withdrawal gives Barak 10-point lead in public-opinion polls; photos (M)

Northpoint Communications Group Inc builds high-speed data networks using normal phone lines; its approach could render networks of most current Internet service providers obsolete; company is most advanced of small cadre of aggressive new players that are building high-speed Internet networks based on technology called digital subscriber line, or DSL; DSL is shaping up as telephone network's main weapon against cable television industry's mounting campaign to offer high-speed Internet access; photo; diagram (M)

Yugoslav officials and analysts say Pres Slobodan Milosevic, after more than 50 days of NATO air raids and with troops still entrenched in Kosovo, is prepared for settlement as long as process can be portrayed as negotiation and not capitulation; he is reportedly frustrated by slow pace of mediating effort by Russian special envoy, Viktor Chernomyrdin, adding to Belgrade's already deep distrust of Moscow's intentions; consensus is that Milosevic has political room to maneuver over Kosovo and to redefine almost any negotiated outcome as victory to preserve his own grip on power; photo (M)

Bob Backlund, five-year champion of World Wrestling Federation who is Republican candidate for Congress in greater Hartford, is leading parade of professional wrestlers turning to politics in hopes of duplicating feat by Jesse Ventura, who scored upset victory in Minnesota's gubernatorial election in November 1998; with huge built-in following and keen instincts for pleasing masses, wrestlers seeking political office hope to tap voters' disgust with longtime political incumbents; Backlund, who played 'good guy' for most of his career, believes he can relate to disaffected voters; has support of top party leaders and is expected to win Republican nomination in 2000; hopes to raise $1 million for First District race against first-term Democrat, Repr John B Larson; photos (M)