March 16, 2003

Prototypes of long-lasting fuel cells that can replace batteries are being tested in laboratories in US and overseas; every big electronics company in world is working on fuel cells; some, like Intel, are going step further and investing millions of dollars in start-up companies like PolyFuel and Neah Power Systems to accelerate development; many analysts expect fuel cells for some consumer electronic devices to begin appearing next year in Japan; betting is that first to reach market will be Toshiba, which is demonstrating prototype of methanol-powered cell this week at trade show in Hanover, Ger; Toshiba says cell could be sold next year with laptops; chart; photo (M)

US official say Bush administration has identified nine senior Iraqi officials, including Pres Saddam Hussein and sons Uday and Qusay, who would be tried for war crimes or crimes against humanity after American-led attack on Iraq; says war could be avoided if they left Iraq, replaced by leadership willing to disarm and 'open up'; Pres Bush prepares at Camp David for emergency summit meeting in Azores with British Prime Min Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Min Jose Maria Aznar; says there is little hope Hussein will disarm without use of force, radio speech; France, Russia and Germany, which have led opposition to war, call for foreign ministers to meet at Security Council to approve list of prioritized disarmament tasks and set demanding and realistic timetable; Hussein invites chief United Nations arms inspectors Hans Blix and Dr Mohamed ElBaradei to visit Iraq to discuss disarmament; Lt Gen William S Wallace, in Kuwait, says United States military will target regime, not Hussein specifically, interview; expects fighting to be concentrated in and around Baghdad (M)

China's Foreign Policy The change in China's power structure has left diplomats wondering about how it will affect the once-isolated country's emerging presence on the world stage. PAGE 8 Utah Girl's Strange Ordeal From near-miss sightings to complaints of police bungling, the family of Elizabeth Smart was presented with a mostly happy ending to the past nine months. PAGE 30

Anemona Hartocollis Coping column on Stop the War, political satire at Surf Reality House of Urban Savages on Lower East Side to benefit United for Peace and Justice antiwar coalition; drawing (M)

Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations reportedly have intensified efforts to recruit young Muslim men in United States, Europe and Africa, tapping into rising anger about American campaign for war in Iraq; intelligence and law enforcement officials warn invasion of Iraq will produce groundswell of recruitment for groups committed to attacks in United States, Europe and Israel; surge in Qaeda recruitment efforts has been most visible in Germany, Britain, Spain, Italy and Netherlands; investigators have increased their use of informants and bugging devices to monitor mosques and other gathering places (M)