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STALIN OKd YANK'S KILLING: Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin approved theexecution of an unidentified U.S. prisoner and also approved a coverstory that gave the prisoner's cause of death as disease, a jointcommission announced today. The U.S.-Russian group, which isscanning old secret police and military archives in Moscow, alsoreleased the names of eight U.S. civilians who were marooned in theformer Soviet Union during World War II or the Cold War. Someemigrated in the 1960s or 1970s, and others might still be living, itsaid. "A search through archives sometimes reveals terrifyingdocuments. An appeal was recently found in which (Sovietcounter-espionage chief Viktor S.) Abakumov requests Stalin to allowthe killing in prison without trial and investigation of an Americancitizen earlier sentenced to eight years' imprisonment," said astatement by Gen. Dmitri Volkogonov, Russian chairman of thecommission. "Abakumov suggested falsifying documents and informingrelatives that the prisoner died from a disease. With Stalin'sconsent, the hapless prisoner was killed." ESCOBAR ACCUSED IN BLAST: Fugitive Medellin drug cartel kingpinPablo Escobar and a man said to be his top assassin were responsiblefor the bomb that blew an Avianca Airlines jetliner out of the skyover Colombia in 1989 with the loss of 110 lives, federal lawenforcement officials in New York City charged today. A 14-countU.S. District Court indictment names Escobar, who escaped last monthfrom his prison in the South American country, and Dandeny MunozMosquera, who was convicted in March of lying to authorities after heentered the United States illegally and is being held in a federalprison. Mosquera is accused of placing the bomb on the plane. Iffound guilty of that charge, he could face the death penalty or lifeimprisonment, prosecutors said. Among the victims were two U.S.citizens. 70 NEW U.S. BASE CUTS: The Defense Department said todayit plans to end or reduce operations at 69 more sites in Europe andone in South Korea as part of its program to scale down the U.S.presence overseas. It is the eighth round of cutbacks in Europe andbrings to 628 the number of overseas installations at whichoperations will be ended, reduced or put on standby. GUILTY IN WIFE'S KILLING: A businessman accused of fatally stabbinghis wife and blaming two black youths was convicted of murder todayby a jury in Milwaukee. Defendant Jesse Anderson, 35, had toldauthorities that two would-be robbers assaulted the suburban couplein a restaurant parking lot April 21 and repeatedly stabbed his wife,Barbara, a 33-year-old mother of three. Prosecutors arguedsuccessfully that Anderson killed his wife and stabbed himself threetimes in the chest to divert suspicion. The jury deliberated aboutnine hours over two days before reaching the verdict. Relatives ofthe victim cheered and clapped. Anderson sat down, put his face intohis hands and shook his head. IRATE GEORGE DENIES LYING: Former CIA spymaster Clair George todayangrily declared "I did not lie" six years ago to members of Congresswho questioned him about the Iran-contra affair. George shouted in atesty exchange in U.S. District Court in Washington with prosecutorCraig Gillen: "You're going to go through these documents the nextfew days and nitpick me to death about what I said and did not say.That's not fair." Earlier, he admonished the prosecutor: "Pleasedon't tell me what I knew, what I absolutely knew, in 1986." Gillenwas questioning George about whether he lied when he told lawmakershe did not know arms middleman Richard Secord and said Secord had noconnection to the CIA in October, 1986. It was the second day on thestand for George, who has pleaded not guilty to three charges ofobstructing Congress and a federal grand jury and six counts ofperjury.