November 10, 2000

Mitsubishi Motors Corp says it may lose money next two years as it awaits benefits of building fewer basic models and other cost-cutting; says losses in current fiscal quarter might triple to at least 70 billion yen ($652 million); DaimlerChrysler paid $1.9 billion in October for one-third stake in company; since then, Mitsubishi has been rocked by scandal over cover-ups of customer complaints about defects; graph (S)

Gov George W Bush's margin appears to be eroding as Florida's recount goes on, and Vice Pres Al Gore's campaign vows to back court fight over questionable ballots in Palm Beach County even after tabulation is complete; Florida's 25 electoral votes would give one candidate or other majority in Electoral College; withs stakes of this magnitude, tempers begin to fray in both camps; Gore's campaign manager, William M Daley, accuses Bush camp of trying to 'presumptively crown themselves the victors' by planning transition team; Karl Rove, Bush's chief strategist, discusses possible recounts in states Gore carried by small margins: Iowa, New Mexico and Wisconsin; many politicians warn against letting situation drag on, unresolved, for weeks; photos; map (M)

Number of deaths is expected to rise sharply in next few decades, and funeral business is opening its doors to more nonwhites and women; students from wide variety of backgrounds are enrolling in mortuary schools, which in turn have revamped curriculums to focus more on business-management skills; owner-managers of funeral homes made average $53,000 to $72,000 last year; Annette York, who is taking mortuary studies at Mercer County Community College in New Jersey, comments; graphs; photos (M)

Israeli helicopter gunships fire missiles at vehicle carrying Palestinian paramilitary commander on West Bank, killing him and two women who happened to be nearby; this is Israel's first targeted, planned slaying of Palestinian militia leader since six-week-old violent confrontation on West Bank and Gaza began; Israeli Army spokesman says militia leader, Hussein Obaiyat, was suspected of being mastermind behind many shooting attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians that emanated from Bethlehem area; says army received permission for killing from 'highest political level'; Fatah paramilitary field officer confirms that Obaiyat was commander of southern Bethlehem area; says Fatah will take 'escalatory measures and revenge' for his killing; paramilitary units of Fatah operate independently; Yasir Arafat's police and security services are supposed to disarm and restrain them under terms of many agreements with Israel; photos; map (M)

2nd Bombing Plot Reported A suspect in the Cole attack in Yemen has said that militants tried to bomb another warship in January, American officials said. PAGE A11