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Managua (dpa) - Nicaragua's National Assembly voted unanimously Thursday to criminalize the small legal loophole that allowed a pregnant woman to receive an abortion if her life was at risk.
The legislature approved the reform in the penal code despite protests from both inside and outside the Central American country.
Leaders of 19 doctors' organizations warned that the criminalization of abortion for therapeutic ends will make many women turn to clandestine procedures, thus increasing female mortality.
The reform was approved 52-0 and had the full support of the leftist Sandinista Front and the backing of a majority of the representatives of the Liberal Party (PL).
Article 165 of Nicaragua's Penal Code, in place since 1891, authorised abortion in pregnancies considered high risk for the mother, provided that the woman gave her consent and that a medical commission of three specialists authorised it.
The reform was requested this month by catholic and protestant leaders and had the support of President Enrique Bolanos, while trade unions, women's organizations, physicians and several NGOs opposed it.
Women's groups accused legislators of using abortion in an attempt to "gain votes" ahead of presidential and legislative elections on November 5.
Earlier this week representatives of UN organizations and of the European Union (EU) had asked the Nicaraguan National Assembly to postpone the vote.
Copyright 2006 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
