US President Barack Obama has said he will end the ban on gay people serving openly in the military.

He said he would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that allows gay people to serve in the military if they do not reveal their sexual orientation.

Mr Obama was speaking to America's largest gay group - the Human Rights Campaign - in Washington.

He had been criticised by some in the gay community for the lack of action on gay marriage and the military issue.

A big gay rights protest march is planned in Washington for Sunday.

Disquiet

Mr Obama was addressing thousands of gay and lesbian people at a fundraising dinner in the US capital.
He said the US had made progress on gay rights and would make more.

On the military issue he said the US could not afford to lose those people who had much needed skills for fighting.

"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve the country," Mr Obama said.

"We should be celebrating their willingness to step forward and show such courage."

Mr Obama did not give a timetable for repeal of the policy, passed by Congress in 1993, under which thousands of service members have been discharged.

The US president has repeatedly pledged to tackle issues important to the gay community.

But he has faced criticism for what many in the gay community see as lack of action on his promises.

Mr Obama asked the audience to trust his administration.

"I appreciate that many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough. Do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach," he said.

One issue causing disquiet among the US gay community is the issue of gay marriage, the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani in Los Angeles says.

Mr Obama has been criticised for not delivering on his promise to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which limits how local and federal bodies can recognise gay partnerships and determine benefits.

In his speech, Mr Obama did call on Congress to repeal the act and he also called for a law that would extend benefits to domestic partners.

In many places in America, gay people enjoy a high profile, economic and political clout, our correspondent says.

eh...pala je atina,pala je vizantija a polako pada i ova sadasnja tiranija...ko li je sledeci globalni gazda?

Čaves: Obama nije zaslužio Nobelovu nagradu za mir
Blic - Pre sat i 6 minuta

Predsednik Venecuele Ugo Čaves ocenio je danas da američki predsednik Barak Obama nije ništa učinio, sem što je izneo lepe želje, da bi zaslužio Nobelovu nagradu za mir.



Čaves je rekao da je mislio da je greška kada je pročitao da je Obama dobio ovu prestižnu nagradu.

"Šta je Obama učinio da zasluži ovu nagradu? Komisija je istakla njegovu nadu za svet oslobođen od nuklearnog oružja, zaboravivši ulogu koju ima u stalnom držanju njegovih bataljona u Iraku i Avganistanu, kao i odluku da uspostavi novu vojnu bazu u Kolumbiji", naglasio je Čaves u kolumni.

Čaves je naveo da smo prvi put svedoci da je nagradu dobio neko ko ništa nije učinio da je zasluži.

"Nagraditi nekoga samo zbog želje je veoma daleko od realnosti", ocenio je predsednik Venecuele.

Čaves je rekao da je to što je Obama dobio nagradu isto kao da je bacač u bejzbolu nagrađen samo zato što je rekao da će pobediti u 50 utakmica i imati 500 udaraca, preneo je Rojters.

Obama je četvrti američki predsednik kome je dodeljena ova nagrada - pre njega su je dobili Džimi Karter, Vudro Vilson i Teodor Ruzvelt.

hkj@
a klinton?gde njega da zaboravis?????naljuti ce se covek i on je zasluzio nnzm

a caves je genijalan,ja obozavam da citam o njemu....

nego,mene samo zanima kada ce svetu da dodje iz dupeta u glavu da mu duguju nekoliko stotina milijardi.
za UN samaricane(smradove),znam da se prave ludi,ali,ne razumem kako ih vise i drugi ne optuze i zatraze svoje pare nazad.dolar vec 50 godina vredi koliko i papir na kome se stampa.ta moneta je odavno izgubila znacaj i vrednost.a ameri odstampaju dnevno 50 miliona dolara,od kojih nijedan ne vredi,pa vi vidite koliko su se oni zaduzili od 50ih naovamo.