DRUG CHECK MAY HINDER EX-MAYOR'S COMEBACK

ANOTHER political comeback by Marion Barry, the former mayor of
Washington and convicted crack cocaine abuser, is in doubt after
police discovered traces of drugs in his car.

Mr Barry, whose two stints as mayor were interrupted by a jail term,
denied that he was in possession of drugs when he was discovered in a
remote corner of the capital.

The former mayor was approached by Park Police as he sat in his
Jaguar in an area of warehouses and industrial buildings in southwest
Washington. An officer reported seeing him "ingesting something" and
noticed a "powdery substance" under his nose.

Traces of marijuana and cocaine were found in the car but not in
sufficient quantities to bring a prosecution. Mr Barry said that he
was not in possession of illegal substances and said that the police
were "attempting to tarnish my name".

Mr Barry first became mayor in 1979 and presided over chaos in the
city throughout much of the 80s and 90s until his retirement in 1998.
In 1990 he was videotaped smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room with
a woman who was not his wife. He served time for cocaine possession
but returned to politics in 1992 by winning a council seat and using
his support among blacks to become mayor again.

Mr Barry, 66, said earlier this month that he was thinking of running
for a council seat again. He said he was unsure if the latest
incident would affect his plans.