Obama 'disappointed' by army gay ban vote

President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was "extremely disappointed" by the US Senate's failure to repeal a nearly two-decade ban on gays serving openly in the US military.

President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was "extremely disappointed" by the US Senate's failure to repeal a nearly two-decade ban on gays serving openly in the US military.

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"A minority of senators were willing to block this important legislation largely because they oppose the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" as the policy is known, Obama said in a statement.

"As commander in chief, I have pledged to repeal this discriminatory law, a step supported by the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff... A great majority of the American people agree.

"This law weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity and equality," he added.