February 10, 2003

Islamic group Ansar al-Islam, which US calls link between Baghdad and Al Qaeda, assassinates Shawkat Hajji Mushir, speaker of Kurdish parliament, and two other government officials in attack in northern village of Qamesh Tapa; three civilians also die, 12 are wounded and two taken hostage; team of gunmen reportedly masqueraded as peace negotiators; attack is third assassination attempt by Islamists against Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq and comes as US moves to enlist Kurds in possible war against Pres Saddam Hussein; previous attempts recalled; Mushir was founding member of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, party tht controls eastern Kurdish zone in Iraq; earned reputation for courage and battlefield savvy as commander in struggles against Hussein and rival Kurds; map; photos (M)

Proposal Expected on Fees Charged By Bell Companies Lobbyists besieged the Federal Communications Commission last week as the agency rushed to rewrite vital and arcane telephone rules that could help determine the next generation of winners and losers in the marketplace. The agency has announced its intention to release rules on Thursday that will govern how much the four Bell companies can charge their rivals for using their networks and equipment. With Michael K. Powell, the agency's chairman, so far unable to find a majority of support from among the four other commissioners, that deadline could slip. [Page C9.]

News that national tour of Broadway production of Oklahoma! will be cast with nonunion actors reflects changing economic landscape on the road, where producers say costs are rising so fast that it is difficult to make profit mounting union tour at full rates; Actors Equity complains that producers are reluctant to open their books and are padding their budgets by adding expensive fees, paid to producers themselves, for 1 everything from booking the show to copying script, and then asking actors to cut their own rates; between producers and union stand road presenters themselves, theater owners and managers who are increasingly having to choose between loyalty to Equity and bottom line; photo (M)

West defeats East, 155-145, to win All-Star Game in double overtime; Michael Jordan's final All-Star Game is marked by sentiment and nostalgia, and he finishes with 20 points; Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) is named most valuable player of game; photos (M)

Article profiles Jack Curran, who is in his 45th year of coaching basketball and baseball at Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens; photo (L)