Obama 'to reverse stem cell ban'

US President Barack Obama will lift restrictions on federal funding for research on new stem cell lines, officials have said.

He will authorise the move by executive order on Monday, according to reports.

President George W Bush blocked the use of any government money to fund research on human embryonic stem cell lines created after 9 August 2001.

Scientists say stem cell research will lead to medical breakthroughs, but many religious groups oppose the research.