October 26, 2002

Russian special forces burst into Moscow theater held by Chechen guerrillas after rebels begin killing some of more than 600 hostages they had seized; government forces pour into theater in pre-dawn raid after panicked hostages run out, evidently as guerrillas begin to carry out their threats to kill hostages; it is not immediately clear how many people are killed in police raid, which begins with series of thunderous explosions, punctuated by bursts of gunfire, then quiet; one hostage says Russian forces filled theater with gas that put those inside to sleep; it is not clear what substance was; Russia's official television network shows film of scene inside theater, including grim scenes of raid's bloody aftermath and bodies of several guerrillas; at last 70 ambulances speed in and out of area, ferrying wounded to hospitals; 10 hostages are reported killed, but many more are treated inside theater and at hospitals; toll could rise; several guerrillas are reported to have escaped, and two are captured on street outside theater; photos; diagrams (L)

Application process for government effort to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for every Sept 11 victim has yielded something far more unexpected and indelible: impulse to create intimate minibiographies about dead, based on interviews, photos or videotapes; most important motivation to assemble narratives may not be push for more compensation but timeless and therapeutic resonance in telling full story of life, love and loss beyond cold, raw numbers; some relatives of deceased comment; photos (M)

New York Times/CBS News Poll shows legal maneuvering that allowed former Sen Frank R Lautenberg to replace Sen Robert G Torricelli as Democratic nominee on ballot in New Jersey's US Senate race has strengthened Democrats' chances of retaining seat; many polls showed that Republican nominee Douglas R Forrester opened sizable lead before Torricelli resigned from race on Sept 30, causing Democratic leaders in Washington to worry that race might cost part its single-seat margin in Senate; poll finds Lautenberg has support of 48 percent of likely voters, while Forrester is favored by 36 percent, with 13 percent undecided; photos (M)

George Vecsey Sports of The Times column discusses San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker, whose son Darren ran onto field during tag play at home plate during Game 5 of World Series; Darren was almost run into by player trying to score; photos (M)

Members of Securities and Exchange Commission split bitterly over qualifications and competency of new leadership of board overseeing accounting profession; vote is 3 to 2 to approve selection of William H Webster to head new board; Democrats on commission say Webster lacks credentials to lead accounting board; say he has no recent experience in accounting issues; handling of selection process leaves SEC Chmn Harvey L Pitt further politically wounded after year of missteps; choice of Webster over John H Biggs, who is considered by some to be too aggressive a reformer, is widely criticized by leading members of Wall Street and by Sen Paul S Sarbanes, main author of law creating new board; Pitt seems to retain support of White House; brief sketches of new members of Accounting Standards Board: Webster, Kayla J Gillan, Daniel L Goelzer, Willis D Gradison Jr and Charles D Niemeier; photos (M)