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| Portugal abortion law put to test | Portugal abortion law put to test |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Official campaigning is beginning in Portugal ahead of a referendum on easing its strict abortion law. | |
| At least 9,000 anti-abortion protesters marched through Lisbon on Sunday urging people to reject the proposal. | At least 9,000 anti-abortion protesters marched through Lisbon on Sunday urging people to reject the proposal. |
| On 11 February voters will decide whether to allow abortions for all women up to the 10th week of pregnancy. | On 11 February voters will decide whether to allow abortions for all women up to the 10th week of pregnancy. |
| The "No" camp has the powerful Roman Catholic Church on its side. Recent opinion polls suggest support for lifting the abortion ban has declined. | The "No" camp has the powerful Roman Catholic Church on its side. Recent opinion polls suggest support for lifting the abortion ban has declined. |
| Abortions are only legal in Portugal within 12 weeks of pregnancy to save a woman's life or to preserve her mental or physical health. | Abortions are only legal in Portugal within 12 weeks of pregnancy to save a woman's life or to preserve her mental or physical health. |
| Europe's abortion rules | Europe's abortion rules |
| In cases of rape, abortions are allowed within 16 weeks. The limit is 24 weeks if there is a risk that the child will be born with an incurable disease or deformity. | In cases of rape, abortions are allowed within 16 weeks. The limit is 24 weeks if there is a risk that the child will be born with an incurable disease or deformity. |
| More than 50% of registered voters must cast their ballots for the referendum to be valid. | More than 50% of registered voters must cast their ballots for the referendum to be valid. |
| A referendum on the issue was ruled invalid in 1998 because of a low turnout. | A referendum on the issue was ruled invalid in 1998 because of a low turnout. |
| Portugal's Socialist Prime Minister, Jose Socrates, called the new referendum in October. | Portugal's Socialist Prime Minister, Jose Socrates, called the new referendum in October. |
| A poll published on Friday in the daily Jornal de Noticias found that about 38% of likely voters would support the new abortion law proposals - down from the 53% registered in a poll in October. | A poll published on Friday in the daily Jornal de Noticias found that about 38% of likely voters would support the new abortion law proposals - down from the 53% registered in a poll in October. |
| Earlier this month, the Bishop of Braganca, Antonio Moreira Montes, likened abortion to the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. | Earlier this month, the Bishop of Braganca, Antonio Moreira Montes, likened abortion to the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. |
| "Everyone was horrified by Saddam's execution. Abortion is a variation of capital punishment," he said. | "Everyone was horrified by Saddam's execution. Abortion is a variation of capital punishment," he said. |