Murdoch: I won't protect reporters

LONDON -- News Corp. chief executive Rupert Murdoch on Friday told the staff at his British tabloid The Sun that executives will continue to give police any evidence of wrongdoing and won't protect reporters found to have broken the law.

But the media mogul also pledged to restore the newspaper's status and confirmed plans to soon launch a new Sunday edition to replace the shuttered News of the World.

In an email message, Murdoch said he will remain in London to handle the crisis caused by the phone hacking scandal and police investigations into alleged email hacking and purported bribery of public officials.

Murdoch's visit follows last week's arrest of five senior Sun staff members as part of an inquiry into the alleged payment of bribes to police and defense officials for information. Ten current and former staff have been questioned over the allegations. None has been charged. -- AP