MARION BARRY TO FIGHT DRUG ALLEGATIONS

Mayor Marion Barry said Monday he'll fight new allegations that he used drugs with a convicted drug dealer. He also called on prosecutors to release his grand jury testimony on the case. Mayor Barry testified about his relationship with Charles Lewis, a former city employee facing drug charges here. Lewis has been convicted on cocaine charges in the Virgin Islands. He reportedly told prosecutors that he and Barry used crack cocaine in Washington last December and in the Virgin Islands.

``A small group of character assassins have taken it upon themselves ... to do in the press what they can't do in court,'' Barry said.