European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 28, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday november 28, 1992 . The stars and stripes Page 5probe of passport scandal May Widen by the  Angeles times Washington a i lie Justice department has taken the first step toward possibly appointing an Independent counsel to investigate the search of state department files for material damaging to then candidate Bill Clinton official s said thursday. The sources who declined to be identified said the departments Public integrity Section is conducting an initial inquiry to determine whether the source of the information and the evidence Are sufficiently credible to Merit a full scale preliminary inquiry that could result in the naming of an outside prosecutor. At Issue is whether the search by state department political appointees of Clinton a passport files for evidence that he had considered renouncing his citizenship to avoid military service in Vietnam violated the privacy act one official said. No evidence was found that Clinton attempted to renounce his citizenship. Although the privacy act is a Misdemeanour statute that carries a $5,000 Fine and no prison sentence for Baker violators the Independent counsel pro visions could be triggered because so called Quot covered individuals May be involved the officials said. If anyone covered by the ethics in government act were involved. Attorney general William p. Barr would be requited to seek court appointment of an outside prosecutor. The sources declined to identify the covered individuals but they could include Elizabeth m. Tum Posi who was fired As assistant Secretary of state for consular affairs Over her role in the search White House chief of staff James a. Baker Iii White House political director Janet g. Mullins and Steven k. Beriy. Then acting assistant score tar of state for legislative affairs. Quot an investigation by Sherman Funk the state department s inspector general concluded last week that Baker the former Secretary of state and Mullins knew about the search almost As soon As it began. It also Lound that White House political operatives had encouraged state department officials to Hunt for anything that could substantiate the Citi Enship renunciation rumours. Funk found that Berry and Tamposi directed the search sept. 50 and oct. I. The inspector general a investigation quoted Tamposi As telling investigators that Berry had told her that Mullins wanted the Clinton tiles searched. Berry denied invoking the authority of the White House. Funk also said there was no evidence the White House had Quot orchestrated Quot the search. However a state department official said wednesday that Funk is still pursuing leads in the inquiry with Quot the Strong implication that they Are new  in the stars and stripes 10 years ago nov. 28,1982 a president Reagan killed a controversial proposal to tax the unemployment insurance benefits collected by the nations jobless. 20 years ago nov. 28, 1972 a Freak Waves rolling Down the Pacific coast from an alaskan storm were blamed for six deaths in Washington Oregon and California. 30 years ago nov. 28, 1962 a a brazilian jetliner bound for los Angeles with 97 persons on Board crashed near Lima Peru. One report said that the Boeing 707 was destroyed and that there were no signs of survivors. 40 years ago nov. 28, 1952 a the bundestag voted 220-160 to bring the big three West German treaty up for ratification a Victory for Chancellor Konrad Adenauer s coalition government. 50 years ago nov. 28,1942 a the Crew of a b-17 flying fortress in route from England to bomb a nazi submarine nest at St. Nazaire France bagged seven German fighter planes in 12 minutes during an hour Long Battle Over the Bay of Biscay the 8th air Force said. World War ii 1 50 years ago today nov. 28 1 a 9 a 4 2 soviet troops make gains on the Central front hear Rah eve in Tunisia Allied soldiers push to the outskirts of a Edeida about 14 Miles from Tunis but German tanks threaten them from the rear a third of Vichy French soldiers defending French Somaliland m East Africa join the allies free French troops occupy the Island of reunion in the Indian Ocean source Days of  h Sam pud seers in world almanac Book of world War ii Bison books corp 1981 a mongolian bicyclists traversing . As world trek survives a few bumps Washington a five mongolian bicyclists undaunted by mechanical breakdowns theft and Lack of Money Are continuing their trek across America in Hopes of cycling around the world. The five a a to reporter who organized the trip a research scientist an artist an Engineer and a professional athlete have been cycling since april leaving their Central asian country and travelling through Russia and Western Europe before flying to new York City. They arrived in Washington last week and were preparing Friday to head South to Richmond va., Atlanta and new Orleans before turning West to Houston Dallas los Angeles and san Francisco. Thus far they said they be met mostly Friendly people some of whom have gone beyond a smile to provide some real help. For example though they usually sleep in a tent to avoid expensive hotels they often can to find a Campground. Quot sometimes we see a House and Knock on a door ask if we can build a tent on the property said Bada Javin lha Vasu Ren a bespectacled 33-Ycar-old research scientist. Most people have been accommodating letting them use the bathroom facilities As Well the riders said. But the riders also have been robbed four times. In Genoa Italy thieves stole  a bag that contained his diary filled with notes for a planned Book on the cycling adventure. A when writing his Book he wont have the names of people Quot recorded in the first few months said mongolian to journalist Gan Boldin Jarga Laihan 34, who has been sending Home his own videotapes of the trip for later broadcasts. In Omsk a one of three russian cities where they were robbed a someone lifted the bag belonging to artist age any Gan bold 33. In it was his painting equipment and artwork some of the pieces he five mongolian bicyclists pause in Washington a Stop on the american leg of their world tour. The journey began april 12 in ulan Bator the mongolian capital. Was preparing for a later exhibit. Some problems have mulling to do with people however. The group already has Ridden More than 11,000 Miles and some of the bikes look As if they wont last the lest of the trip. Heavy electrical tape for instance binds together  s Bike Frame a russian Model that cracked in Belgium. Quot its an International Bike Quot thanks to All the replacement parts needed to keep the vehicle operable lag Vasten laughed. Also helping to keep the bikes working Are the two other riders Gombotz Seregin delve Raihan 34, an Engineer and Shir Engin Yondo dash the old Man of the group at 43. He is a professional athlete who won an International cycling Competition a decade ago in Iran they said. Jarga Laihan said the venture has been supported but two mongolian companies and the government of their economically struggling country a former soviet satellite that two years ago had its first free elections. Even with the riders frugality which includes cooking much of their food he estimated the trip will Cost about $30, 100. T he riders began april 12 in ulan Bator Mongolia a capital and headed through Russia and on to Belgium where four of them waited two months while Jarga Laihan flew Home to raise More Money. Reunited they took a boat to England. T hey flew to new York City on nov. 0 and began peddling again. Study suggests threat from silicone implants Washington Ufi a study released t thursday provides More evidence pointing to a potential danger of silicone gel breast implants. The researchers found that traumatic injuries such As car accidents in which an implant ruptured or could have leaked silicone gel into a patients system seeded up the appearance of symptoms of certain diseases. But the researchers have not identified whether there is an actual cause and effect relationship Between the implants and the a buses which include arthritis Lupus or scleroderma. The study was conducted by or. Ling m. Tan and other researchers at the Scripps clinic in la Jolla Calif. The researchers studied 24 women who had silicone implants and also developed scleroderma Lupus or related Quot autoimmune  such diseases cause the body a disease lighting capability to turn against its own tissue symptoms of the diseases App red an average of 2 8 Sears after Tiaina to the implant patients breasts compared with an  of nine to i c. Between initial implantation and appearance of disease symptoms in other patients t an reported in the British medical journal the lancet. Silicone gel filled breast implants have been used for nearly three decades in an estimated 1 million american women the study seas conducted after concerns were raised about the Long term health effects of the implants which the Federal food and drug administration banned last january am now Only permits to be implanted in women enrolled m controlled scientific studies