RWANDA . . . U.S. COMMITMENT GROWING

Defense Secretary William Perry said the 750 U.S. troops aiding Rwandan refugees in Zaire and Uganda will swell to at least 4,000 within a week. And that number could further grow if the Pentagon sets up a "way station" system to draw fearful Hutu refugees back to Rwanda, where rival Tutsi now hold power. Meanwhile, a team of U.S. soldiers will assess the conditions in Rwanda's capital to determine if food, water and other supplies could be delivered faster using facilities inside the country -- though Perry said he hadn't yet decided on sending in a large force. Perry himself will fly to Africa over the weekend to inspect the U.S. operations on behalf of President Clinton. Aid officials said the U.S. relief operation could last three to six months before the United Nations takes over.