The failure of the Dutch UN troops to fend off an attack by Bosnian Serb forces had "nothing to do with sexual orientation" but was related to "their training and the rules of engagement," Levin said.

Nearly 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed after Serb forces captured the eastern town on July 11, 1995, in the worst massacre in Europe since World War II.

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"The military mission of Dutch U.N. soldiers at Srebrenica has been exhaustively studied and evaluated, nationally and internationally," Jones-Bos said. "There is nothing in these reports that suggests any relationship between gays serving in the military and the mass murder of Bosnian Muslims."

Sheehan testified alongside a former Army major and former Navy lieutenant who were discharged because they are gay. The Armed Services panel has held a series of hearings to explore repealing the military's ban on gay service members. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) introduced a bill this month that would repeal the ban. Military leaders and congressional Republicans want to hold off on a repeal until the Pentagon completes its review of the policy.

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By THOM SHANKER

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Thursday announced new rules that will make it more difficult for the military to expel openly gay service members, an interim plan while the Pentagon examines how it would implement any repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

The measures, Mr. Gates said, go into effect immediately and will assure that the current policy is carried out in “a fairer and more appropriate manner” and in a way based on “common sense and common decency.”

President Obama has called on Congress to repeal the legislation that prohibits openly gay men and lesbians from serving in the armed forces. The Pentagon is conducting a review of how such a change would be implemented, should Congress repeal the law.

A retired US general has apologised for suggesting that Dutch troops failed to stop the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia in 1995 because some of them were gay.

Gen John Sheehan acknowledged that his views had been wrong, after the Dutch general he cited as his source denied having said anything of the kind.

He made the claim at a Senate hearing on whether openly gay people should be allowed to serve in the US military.

The comments caused a storm of controversy in the Netherlands.

People are being killed for their sexual orientation, despite progress made by some nations, including Britain, to eliminate prejudice

A comprehensive study of global lesbian, bisexual and gay rights, seen by The Independent on Sunday, reveals the brutal – and, in many instances, fatal – price people pay around the globe for their sexuality. The research, which was conducted by the charity network the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), shows that 76 countries still prosecute people on the grounds of their sexual orientation – seven of which punish same-sex acts with death.

On a global scale, the nations doing something positive for gay rights are dwarfed by those behaving negatively. While 75 countries will imprison you if you are gay, only 53 have anti-discrimination laws that apply to sexuality. Only 26 countries recognise same-sex unions.

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