April 7, 2003

Deputy Defense Sec Paul D Wolfowitz says it may take United States more than six months to cede power in postwar Iraq to Iraqi-led civilian authority that would pave way for representative government; recalls that after Persian Gulf war in 1991 it took six months for Kurdish forces in northern Iraq to establish effective self-governance; envisions no central postwar role for United Nations in political administration, as many European countries want; Gen Peter Pace, vice chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, tells reporters that American and British forces or 'those who might volunteer to join us' could provide 'secure environment' so that new Iraqi government could build its police force and its armed forces up to internal defense-type capability; Pres Bush prepares to head to Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Apr 7 for his third meeting in three weeks with Prime Min Tony Blair of Britain, who has pushed for deeper UN involvement in postwar Iraq; UN Sec Gen Kofi Annan calls Security Council meeting to discuss Iraq; photo (M)

Anthony Tommasini reviews Metropolitan Opera performance of Wagner's Parsifal, conducted by Valery Gergiev with Placido Domingo in title role; photo (S)

American airstrike mistakenly hits convoy of American and Kurdish soldiers in northern Iraq, killing 18 Kurds and wounding more than 45 others, including brother and son of Massoud Barzani, leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party; plane bombed 8 to 10 sports utility vehicles and trucks that were parked at least a mile from front line, and at least five of vehicles had blaze-orange markings on their roofs meant to warn American pilot; photos (M)

CBS Sports television coverage of 2003 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia will remain basically unchanged despite picketing by demonstrators against club's men-only membership policy; broadcast will have no sponsors; demonstration, led by National Council of Women's Organizations, is likely to be televised only if it affects tournament play; photos (M)

Vivendi Universal chief executive Jean-Rene Fourtou is encumbered by high prices paid for acquisitions by his predecessor Jean-Marie Messier and tax consequences incurred during Vivendi's expansion into global media giant; Fourtou's goal of reducing company's debt by $7 billion, in part by selling American entertainment assets, is unlikely to be achieved soon; analysts value Vivendi's total entertainment businesses at $15 billion to $17 billion excluding debt; most serious bidding interest appears to be for its Sci-Fi Channel and USA Network cable properties; table (M)