US army turns off sex hotline

The US army has shut down the hotline it started last November to receive complaints about sexual misconduct, saying that it has served its purpose. The line, a response to complaints that the army was not taking sexual harassment allegations seriously, took more than 8,000 calls, and 342 cases are under investigation as a result.

In recent weeks, however, tip-offs about adulterous affairs have led to the resignation of several senior officers and have scuppered the promotion chances of the deputy head of the armed forces, air force general Joseph Ralston. The hotline is to be replaced by an "assistance line" that will not accept anonymous complaints. Mary Dejevsky - Washington