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| Campaigners at abortion rallies | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Pro-choice and anti-abortion campaigners have been holding rallies in support of, and in opposition to, an attempt to change the law on abortion. | |
| Hundreds of campaigners attended an anti-abortion rally at Stormont. | |
| An amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill would extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. | An amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill would extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. |
| The Alliance for Choice group, which wants the act extended, held smaller rallies outside Belfast City Hall and in Londonderry. | |
| Alliance Party assembly member Anna Lo, who is pro-choice, told Inside Politics the amendment was "the last chance to liberalise the law on abortion". | Alliance Party assembly member Anna Lo, who is pro-choice, told Inside Politics the amendment was "the last chance to liberalise the law on abortion". |
| The abortion amendment is due to be debated in the Commons on Wednesday. | The abortion amendment is due to be debated in the Commons on Wednesday. |
| However, reports from Westminster suggest the government may use a procedural motion to push it to the back of the queue, in the hope that MPs will run out of time before voting on it. | However, reports from Westminster suggest the government may use a procedural motion to push it to the back of the queue, in the hope that MPs will run out of time before voting on it. |
| Ms Lo said: "I think that would be very sad for Northern Ireland, I think this is the only chance for a long, long time for Northern Ireland to have this liberal law." | Ms Lo said: "I think that would be very sad for Northern Ireland, I think this is the only chance for a long, long time for Northern Ireland to have this liberal law." |
| The reason abortion law can be dealt with at Westminster rather than Stormont is that it is considered a matter of criminal justice. | The reason abortion law can be dealt with at Westminster rather than Stormont is that it is considered a matter of criminal justice. |
| MLA Dr Kieran Deeny, who opposes abortion, said this was another reason why justice powers should be devolved. | MLA Dr Kieran Deeny, who opposes abortion, said this was another reason why justice powers should be devolved. |
| "If there ever was a medical reason for us to have police and justice powers devolved to Northern Ireland quickly, this is it," he said. | "If there ever was a medical reason for us to have police and justice powers devolved to Northern Ireland quickly, this is it," he said. |
| "And we should have that done as quickly as possible for the sake of our unborn children." | "And we should have that done as quickly as possible for the sake of our unborn children." |
| Saturday's "Rally for Life" at Stormont was backed by anti-abortion campaigners, politicians and church leaders. | |
| Listen to the debate on BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics | Listen to the debate on BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics |