The Iraqi government will annually allocate 100 seats for women in military and police academies, officials said Monday (June 25th).

"The cabinet agreed to give women who want to work for the Iraqi police and army specific seats every year in the police and military academies so they may graduate as first lieutenants," said government spokesperson Ali al-Dabbagh.

"Conditions and restrictions imposed in appointment in security agencies would be removed once and for all for Iraqi female students who graduate from secondary schools," he added.

The plan is part of a government initiative to employ women in security posts and to grant them senior positions based upon merit, he said, adding that the first female graduates will join the police and military academies in early July to study for three years and graduate as officers.