By TODD S. PURDUM (NYT) 1103 words
Late Edition - Final, Section A, Page 1, Column 1

ABSTRACT - Bush administration rebuffs Sec of State Colin L Powell and says it will not contribute to United Nations Population Fund, contending it provides aid to Chinese government agencies that force women to have abortions; reverses course and will withhold previously approved $34 million in approved aid, citing provisions of 1985 Kemp-Kasten amendment that bars funds to any international organization president determines supports or participates in management of forced abortion or sterilization; decision is praised by anitabortion groups but derided by supporters of abortion rights; underscores long-running tensions within administration between conservatives and moderates as White House heads into midterm elections eager to energize its political base; places Powell in uncomfortable position of announcing policy he resisted; Population Fund, which provides family planning and reproductive-health services, has been political hot potato for years; US withdrew all contributions during first Bush presidency and some years of Clinton administration when Republicans controlled Congress; graphs (M)