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US abortion doctor is shot dead US abortion doctor is shot dead
(20 minutes later)
Prominent abortion doctor George Tiller has been shot dead at his church in Wichita, Kansas, city officials say. A prominent US abortion doctor has been shot dead at his church in Wichita, Kansas, city officials say.
The 67-year-old doctor was killed just after 1000 local time (1500 GMT) on Sunday morning at the Reformation Lutheran Church. Sixty-seven year-old George Tiller was killed just after 1000 (1500 GMT) at the Reformation Lutheran Church.
Dr Tiller one of the few US doctors who perform late-term abortions, had been demonised by some abortion opponents. Dr Tiller - one of the few US doctors who performed late-term abortions - had been demonised by some in the anti-abortion movement.
His clinic has often been the site of demonstrations, and he was shot and wounded by an assailant 16 years ago. His clinic had often been the site of demonstrations, and he was shot and wounded by an assailant 16 years ago.
The shooting happened on Sunday morning
Police and city officials are quoted as saying Dr Tiller was shot in the lobby of the church.Police and city officials are quoted as saying Dr Tiller was shot in the lobby of the church.
They say the attacker, a white man, then fled in a car.They say the attacker, a white man, then fled in a car.
Dr Tiller was shot in the lobby of the church, reports say
The shooting comes two weeks after President Barack Obama made a major speech on abortion at one of the main Catholic universities in the US.The shooting comes two weeks after President Barack Obama 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.
Dr Tiller's killing, however, was swiftly denounced by anti-abortionists.
"We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning," anti-abortion group Operation Rescue said on its website.