January 17, 2005

Article, Back Channels, recounts how Ukraine's intelligence services thwarted military crackdown against democracy demonstrators massed in Kiev last November; senior intelligence officials warned Interior Ministry that using force against peaceful rallies was illegal and said army and security services would defend civilians against ministry troops; exchanges among top officials were hidden factor in Orange Revolution that overturned fraudulent election and changed Ukraine's political course, and are rare in former Soviet states where security agencies are often most conservative, ruthless instruments of state power; inside battle was waged by clique of top officials, known as siloviki, who chose not to follow Pres Leonid Kuchma's plan to pass power to Prime Min Viktor Yanukovich; Oleksander Galaka, head of military intelligence, and Col Gen Ihor P Smeshko were among those warning Lt Gen Sergei Popkov not to send in Interior Ministry troops; officers also funneled information to opposition led by Viktor Yushchenko and engaged in psychological tug-of-war to soften government response to protests; group also included Lt Gen Lt Gen Oleksander Skibinetsky and Lt Gen Oleksander Skipalsky, who had relatives in crowds; photos; day-by-day developments recounted (L)

Hundreds of Coptic Christians gather at St George and St Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church in Jersey City to mourn four members of Armanious family and decry their killing as crime of religious hatred; Hossam Armanious, his wife, Amal Garas, and their two daughters, all Coptic Christians from Egypt, were found on Jan 14 with their throats slashed; mourners say Islamic Egyptian are responsible; police say that there is no evidence of bias and that money was stolen during crime; photo (M)

Prime Min Ariel Sharon, in blunt warning to new Palestinian leader, warns Mahmoud Abbas that Israeli military will act 'without restrictions' against Palestinians stepping up attacks in Gaza; PLO issues rare call for halt to 'all military acts' that provide 'excuses' to Israel, reflecting efforts of Abbas, who is also PLO chairman; Hamas renews rocket and mortar fire in Gaza; Israeli gunfire reportedly kills two Palestinians; Israeli troops pull back from outskirts of Gaza City after clashes in which eight Palestinians are killed, most of them militants; photo; Palestinian shelling wounds two Israeli children at Gaza settlement and teenage girl in Sederot (M)

U.S. Frees 81 Afghans; Broad Amnesty Planned The United States military released 81 Afghans from detention in their country. It was described as the first stage of a program under which many suspected Taliban fighters held by Americans might be freed over the coming months. Most of the detainees interviewed on their release denied any involvement with the Taliban. Some complained of mistreatment at the hands of the American forces. PAGE A3 Former Chinese Leader Dies Zhao Ziyang, the former chief of Chinas Communist Party who was stripped of power because he supported student protesters in 1989, died in Beijing. He was 85. The authorities are worried that a state funeral could lead to demonstrations. PAGES A4 AND B5 Patriots and Eagles Advance The New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles moved within a game of the Super Bowl with victories in the National Football League playoffs. The Patriots shut down Peyton Manning and the Colts, 20-3, and the Eagles stopped Daunte Culpepper and the Vikings, 27-14. SPORTSMONDAY, PAGE D1 After 44 Years, Prison Journalist Is Released Wilbert Rideau, an acclaimed prison journalist and confessed killer, walked out of jail in Lake Charles, La., a free man after 44 years. In his fourth trial for the 1961 killing of a bank teller, he was convicted of manslaughter, not murder, allowing him to be released for time served. PAGE A11 Employees, Not Advocates A White House official said that Social Security employees would not be asked to advocate a ''specific prescription'' for the program. But he maintained that the program had severe financial problems. PAGE A15 'Aviator' and 'Sideways' Win In the Golden Globes, Martin Scorsese's film ''The Aviator,'' about Howard Hughes, took the award for best drama, while Alexander Payne's ''Sideways'' was named best comedy. THE ARTS, PAGE E1

Arlene Aguirre cares for her twin boys, Clarence and Carl, at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, NY, following operation at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx that separated twins physically; hospital officials say twins are medically fine but developmentally behind other children their age; Blythedale and Montefiore are picking up Aguirres' bills for operation and present living expenses, as well as helping family adjust to new situation; photos (M)