WASHINGTON EX-MAYOR ENDS CAMPAIGN AFTER DRUG INCIDENT

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Marion S. Barry Jr., who since 1975 has served four
terms as mayor of the District of Columbia and several terms as a city
councilman, said today that he would end his latest run for the Council "in
the overall best interest of my family, this city and its residents."

Mr. Barry surprised the city's residents and others on March 6 when he
announced that he would run for an at-large seat, saying the city's poor
and older citizens needed to be better represented.

But on March 21, the police said they found residue of crack cocaine and
marijuana in his car, which was parked near an open-air drug market in
Southwest Washington. Mr. Barry, 66, who has denied he had drugs in the
car, was not arrested, the police said, because of the small amount of
drugs involved. The police said they discovered a small rock of crack
cocaine that might sell for about $5.

Mr. Barry said he was waiting in his car to meet an unidentified woman he
has described as a "longtime political ally" who had asked for his counsel.

"Over the last few days, I have been faced with weighing a number of
decisions that would have an impact on me, my family, the District and my
political future," Mr. Barry said in a statement. "I have decided not to
run for the at-large seat on the District of Columbia City Council."

Mr. Barry acknowledged that the incident had "caused deep divisions and
acrimony among the District's residents." The incident also appears to have
created a rift between Mr. Barry and his wife, Cora Masters Barry, who
stood by him in 1992 after he was released from jail on misdemeanor drug
charges. She said she had moved out of their home in Washington and was
taking time to evaluate her life.

Mr. Barry was elected to his last term as mayor in 1994, four years after
being videotaped by federal agents smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room.

"I deeply love this city and its residents," Mr. Barry said. "And while I
will not be running for the Council seat, I will continue to speak out and
speak up for those whose causes I care so deeply about."