OBAMA TO REVERSE ABORTION POLICY,SAY OFFICIALS

President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions,officials said on Friday. The move,long expected in the Democratic Presidents first week in office,will be welcomed by liberals and criticised by abortion rights foes.

The policy bans US taxpayer money from going to international family planning groups that either offer abortions or provide information,counseling or referrals about abortion. It is also known as the global gag rule, because it prohibits taxpayer funding for groups that even talk about abortion if there is an unplanned pregnancy. The Democratic official who disclosed the plans did so on the condition of anonymity.

Obama will sign the executive order at a low-key event,one day after the 36th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Roe vs Wade that legalised abortion.