BAKER <BKO> SUES TO FORCE HUGHES <HT> MERGER Baker International corp said it has filed suit in state court in Houston to compel Hughes Tool Co to complete its proposed merger with Baker. Late yesterday, Hughes said it had terminated the merger agreement because Baker would not agree to an alternative divestiture plan devised by Hughes. Hughes' board had previously found unacceptable a U.S. Justice Department consent decree that would have required broader divestitures. Baker said it has not obtained any satisfactory explanation from Hughes of its objections to the provisions of the Justice Department consent decree. Hughes yesterday adjourned the special meeting at which shareholders were to vote on the merger without permitting the counting of votes on the deal. Baker said it believes the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the merger. Baker said the new terms that Hughes proposed for the merger, as an alternative to the consent decree, were "more burdensome" than those of the consent decree themselves. Baker said divestitures under the consent decree would reduce revenues for the combined company by about 65 mln dlrs or three pct. Baker said it will continue to pursue the divestitures of the units named in the consent decree. It said its suit names as defendants Hughes and certain of its directors and seeks either an injunction forcing Hughes to live up to the merger agreement or "substantial" monetary damages it did not name. Baker said it believes the merger to be in the best interests of shareholders of both companies.