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| US abortion doctor is shot dead | US abortion doctor is shot dead |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A prominent US abortion doctor has been shot dead at a church in the city of Wichita, Kansas. | A prominent US abortion doctor has been shot dead at a church in the city of Wichita, Kansas. |
| Dr George Tiller, one of the few US doctors who performed late-term abortions, had been vilified by anti-abortionists in the US. | Dr George Tiller, one of the few US doctors who performed late-term abortions, had been vilified by anti-abortionists in the US. |
| The gunman fled in a car, but officials say a suspect is now in custody. | The gunman fled in a car, but officials say a suspect is now in custody. |
| US Attorney General Eric Holder said the US would offer protection to "appropriate people and facilities" in the wake of Dr Tillers' killing. | US Attorney General Eric Holder said the US would offer protection to "appropriate people and facilities" in the wake of Dr Tillers' killing. |
| Dr Tiller's clinic - called Women's Health Care Services - had often been the site of demonstrations, and he had been shot and wounded by an assailant 16 years ago. | Dr Tiller's clinic - called Women's Health Care Services - had often been the site of demonstrations, and he had been shot and wounded by an assailant 16 years ago. |
| Questioning of the suspect, a 51 year-old man, is continuing. Wichita Deputy Police Chief Tom Stolz said he was likely to face one charge of murder and two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a gun at two other men. | Questioning of the suspect, a 51 year-old man, is continuing. Wichita Deputy Police Chief Tom Stolz said he was likely to face one charge of murder and two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a gun at two other men. |
| Profile: George Tiller | |
| Dr Tiller, who was 67, was shot just after 1000 (1500 GMT) at the Reformation Lutheran Church. | Dr Tiller, who was 67, was shot just after 1000 (1500 GMT) at the Reformation Lutheran Church. |
| His lawyer, Dan Monnat, said his client was killed while serving as an usher during a morning church service. His wife was in the choir at the time. | His lawyer, Dan Monnat, said his client was killed while serving as an usher during a morning church service. His wife was in the choir at the time. |
| Dr Tiller's widow, four children and 10 grandchildren issued a statement calling his killing "an unspeakable tragedy". | Dr Tiller's widow, four children and 10 grandchildren issued a statement calling his killing "an unspeakable tragedy". |
| The statement said: "This is particularly heart-wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace." | The statement said: "This is particularly heart-wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace." |
| They said his death was a loss for Wichita and for women across America, saying he had dedicated his life to providing women with high-quality health care, despite frequent threats and violence. | They said his death was a loss for Wichita and for women across America, saying he had dedicated his life to providing women with high-quality health care, despite frequent threats and violence. |
| 'Cowardly' | 'Cowardly' |
| Anti-abortion groups also denounced the shooting. | Anti-abortion groups also denounced the shooting. |
| In a statement, Troy Newman of Operation Rescue said his group had worked for years through peaceful and legal means and through the proper channels to see Dr Tiller "brought to justice". | In a statement, Troy Newman of Operation Rescue said his group had worked for years through peaceful and legal means and through the proper channels to see Dr Tiller "brought to justice". |
| ANTI-ABORTION ATTACKS Oct 1998: Dr Barnett Slepian shot dead, Buffalo, New YorkJan 1998: Policeman killed in blast at clinic near Birmingham, AlabamaDec 30 1994: Two receptionists shot dead at clinics near BostonJuly 1994: Dr John Britton and a volunteer escort killed outside clinic, Pensacola, Florida | ANTI-ABORTION ATTACKS Oct 1998: Dr Barnett Slepian shot dead, Buffalo, New YorkJan 1998: Policeman killed in blast at clinic near Birmingham, AlabamaDec 30 1994: Two receptionists shot dead at clinics near BostonJuly 1994: Dr John Britton and a volunteer escort killed outside clinic, Pensacola, Florida |
| "We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning." | "We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning." |
| Phill Kline, an opponent of Dr Tiller and a former attorney-general of the state of Kansas, said: "I am stunned by this lawless and violent act, which must be condemned and should be met with the full force of law." | Phill Kline, an opponent of Dr Tiller and a former attorney-general of the state of Kansas, said: "I am stunned by this lawless and violent act, which must be condemned and should be met with the full force of law." |
| President Barack Obama said he was shocked and outraged over the killing. | President Barack Obama said he was shocked and outraged over the killing. |
| "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence," Mr Obama said. | "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence," Mr Obama said. |
| The shooting came two weeks after the president made a major speech on abortion at one of the main Catholic universities in the US. | The shooting came two weeks after the president made a major speech on abortion at one of the main Catholic universities in the US. |
| Correspondents say the president is attempting to defuse the abortion issue - a highly emotive subject in US public life - by arguing that while it should remain legal, the government should do all it can to limit the number of unwanted pregnancies. | Correspondents say the president is attempting to defuse the abortion issue - a highly emotive subject in US public life - by arguing that while it should remain legal, the government should do all it can to limit the number of unwanted pregnancies. |
| But members of the anti-abortion movement have been angered by the president's reversal of restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and for family-planning groups which carry out or facilitate abortions outside the US. | But members of the anti-abortion movement have been angered by the president's reversal of restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and for family-planning groups which carry out or facilitate abortions outside the US. |
| Under Kansas state law, abortions later in pregnancy are legal only if two independent physicians agree that the mother could suffer irreparable harm by giving birth. | |
| Dr Tiller's clinic is one of just three in the US to perform abortions after 21 weeks. |