WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan has been cleared by a Pentagon inquiry into potentially inappropriate email communications with a Florida socialite, likely resurrecting his nomination to the military's top job in Europe.

Marine General John Allen was placed under investigation in November over email exchanges with one of the women at the center of the scandal that forced David Petraeus to resign as CIA director.

Allen had strongly denied any wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Sandra Maler)