More sxx assaults reported at military academies

DENVER - The Defence Department says reported sxxual assaults at the three military academies that train future officers rose 64 per cent in the 2009-10 academic year compared with the previous year.

Officials said on Wednesday the increase could reflect that more students are reporting assaults, rather than a jump in the number of assaults themselves.

The Pentagon says 41 sxxual assaults involving students at West Point, the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy were reported to authorities in 2009-10. In the previous academic year, 25 were reported.

The Pentagon estimates fewer than 10 per cent of sxxual assaults at the academies are reported.

The statistics are in the 2009-10 Report on Sxxual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies. It's issued annually. -- AP