Canada drops national anthem change plan

Canada has dropped a proposal to change the country's national anthem by making it more gender-inclusive.

The government had said it was open to changing a lyric in O Canada - "in all thy sons command" - to the original version, "in thou dost us command".

Opposition Liberals said the proposed change was merely a gimmick that proved the ruling Conservatives were not serious about women's rights.

Public outcry was so strong PM Stephen Harper dropped the idea after two days.

"We offered to hear from Canadians on this issue and they have already spoken loud and clear," said Mr Harper's spokesman, Dimitri Soudas.

They overwhelmingly do not want to open the issue. The government will not proceed any further to change our national anthem."

The issue was raised after the anthem was played a record 14 times at gold medal ceremonies during the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

O Canada replaced God Save the Queen as Canada's national anthem in 1980.

It was composed by Calixa Lavallée in 1880 and while the lyrics have changed over the years, their current version is based on a 1908 poem written by Stanley Weir.