322 US agents to monitor elections in Mississippi

The Justice Department announced it is sending 322 federal observers to eight Mississippi counties to monitor today's gubernatorial primary elections. Assistant Attorney General William Bradford Reynolds, the administration's chief civil rights enforcer, said he decided to send the observers after a ''pre-election survey'' determined a number of Mississippi counties are likely to be trouble spots. He said observers will ''determine whether minorities are able to vote without interference.'' The eight counties are up to 73 percent black.

Evelyn Gandy, a veteran of Mississippi state politics, is expected to lead the field for the Democratic gubernatorial slot.