Canada military probes rampant sex attacks

Canada's military has been ordered to investigate and take action after shocking allegations of widespread sexual assaults within its ranks.

One in 10 female soldiers reported being sexually assaulted, according to cover stories by MacLean's magazine and its French-language sister publication L'Actualite, which cited military records obtained during an eight-month investigation.

The two magazines, whose stories prompted the internal review, estimated the figure is actually far higher - by as much as tenfold - when adding in unreported cases.

In total, the military received an average of one sexual assault complaint every other day - or 178 annually from 2002 to 2012, the publications reported.

Chief of the Defense Staff General Tom Lawson called the revelations "disturbing" and said sexual assault is an "abhorrent and corrosive act that goes against the entirety of our military ethos".

He said he has ordered an immediate internal review of the military's "workplace programs and policies, and leadership engagement".

Defense Minister Rob Nicholson said he was also "deeply angered" to learn of such sexual misconduct within the military ranks, adding it "will not be tolerated."