THE TELEGRAPH: President-Elect Barack Obama will end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy towards gays in the military as part of moves to sweep away remnants of the Bush era.
The move is expected to be among a series of symbolic changes he will push through quickly to stamp his mark on the presidency.
He is also expected to reverse several controversial executive Bush decisions within days of taking office next week.
Mr Obama has committed to closing the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay and will formally ban all interrogative techniques that could be described as torture, such as waterboarding.
It is expected that he will also reverse Mr Bush's orders restricting the distribution of funds for stem cell research and to overseas groups that offer abortion counselling.
The change of policy on homosexuality will allow gays to serve openly in all branches of the armed forces.
Though a timeline was not put on the reversal of the policy, Robert Gibbs, who becomes Mr Obama's press secretary next week, was unequivocal that it would happen.
When questioned about whether the policy would change on the Obama transition website, he wrote: "You don't hear politicians give a one-word answer much. But it's 'Yes'." >>> By Alex Spillius in Washington | Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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