US lifts ban on women in combat

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has lifted the military's ban on women serving in combat roles, potentially opening hundreds of thousands of frontline positions to women.

The ruling, officially announced yesterday, overturns a 1994 rule barring women from small ground-combat units.

However, the military will have until 2016 to argue for any specific posts they think should remain closed to women.

President Barack Obama has described the move as a historic step.

Military chiefs will be asked to report back to Panetta by May 15 on their initial plans to implement the new policy.

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