Denver

Bryant case spurs victims’ privacy efforts

After a resort worker accused Kobe Bryant of rape, her identity was splashed around the world on Web sites, the cover of a supermarket tabloid and a radio broadcast. The basketball star’s attorney said the woman’s name six times during a court hearing.

Now, two state legislators have proposed tighter legal protections for people who report being raped, citing the hate mail and death threats that targeted the 19-year-old accuser.

Without the extra protection, the release of identities “could … prevent victims from coming forward,” Democratic state Sen. Peter Groff said.

Groff’s measure would allow prosecutors to decide whether to list accusers’ names in legal proceedings under a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe.

Republican state Sen. Bruce Cairns proposed a bill that would allow victims to sue the people who released their names for actual damages and a civil penalty.

Neither bill has been set for a legislative hearing.

Oregon

Police ordered to report profanity

Responding to citizen complaints of foul-mouthed law enforcement, the Portland police chief has told his officers to not swear so much in the line of duty.

The directive, which says officers must “self-report” each time they use a profane word on the job, went into effect Jan. 1. Those found guilty of unnecessary swearing would face counseling and — in extreme cases — official reprimand.

Chief Derrick Foxworth said the directive simply called for professional behavior. But the local police union described the policy as frivolous. Most officers, one union official said, intended to ignore it.

Union president Robert King said there were situations when using profanity was an effective tactic. Officers routinely deal with hard-core criminals, and sometimes, King said, “Saying ‘Please put the gun down,’ won’t work.”

Texas

Gay bishop opponents to form alliance

Conservative Episcopalians are gathering today to establish an unprecedented nationwide organization to unite opponents of last year’s consecration of their denomination’s first openly gay bishop.

Advocates said the new Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes wouldn’t be a breakaway denomination or schism but rather a “church within a church.”

The two-day meeting to form the network involves bishops, clergy and lay delegates from 12 dioceses representing 235,000 members.

Cambodia

Ex-leader denies committing genocide

The top surviving leader of the Khmer Rouge said he made “mistakes” during the feared regime’s rule but denied being guilty of genocide and rejected the idea that millions of people died.

Nuon Chea, second in command under Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, told The Associated Press on Saturday he would gladly appear before a U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal pursuing top Khmer Rouge leaders.

“I admit that there was a mistake. But I had my ideology. I wanted to free my country,” Nuon Chea, 77, said.

The Khmer Rouge, which ruled from 1975-79, is implicated in the deaths of at least 1.7 million Cambodians, according to the Documentation Center of the Cambodia Genocide Program.

Greece

Police to guard venues months before Olympics

Hundreds of police and soldiers will guard Olympic venues months before the games this August, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The protection will concentrate on 35 Olympic facilities described as “high risk” for a potential terrorist attack, according to a confidential security document cited in the Athens daily newspaper To Vima.

Police officials could not be immediately reached for comment.