NATION IN BRIEF : KANSAS : Judge Frees Leaders of Abortion Protests

Three Operation Rescue leaders were freed after they agreed to leave Wichita and not return as the militant anti-abortion group ended six weeks of demonstrations, authorities said. U.S. Circuit Judge Patrick F. Kelly released Keith Tucci of Charleston, S.C., the national anti-abortion group’s executive director; the Rev. Joe Slovenec of Cleveland; and the Rev. Pat Mahoney of Boca Raton, Fla. Kelly jailed the leaders on Aug. 20 for failing to post a $100,000 peace bond to cover potential damages caused by demonstrations at the clinics.