BAe FEARS BRITAIN WILL NOT FIGHT FOR M.E. CONTRACTS

LONDON [MENL] -- BAe Systems appears concerned that the government of PrimeMinister Tony Blair will reduce lobbying for company contracts in the MiddleEast. BAe sources said the Blair government appears to have implemented a newpolicy that no longer sees the company as British. They said this could hurtBAe efforts to maintain projects in the Middle East and Persian Gulf.