British Parliament OKs Abortion Curb

The House of Commons voted on Friday to restrict abortion to the first 18 weeks of pregnancy, bowing to arguments that even before that time a fetus is developed enough to feel pain from the procedure.

The abortion amendment bill, approved 296-251 at its second reading stage, now goes to a committee and faces further votes before it can become law.

Backers pointed to controversial findings about the amount of pain that can be suffered by a fetus after as little as eight or nine weeks of development.

Liberal Party Parliament member David Alton, the author of the proposed legislation, told the Commons that although his bill sets a time limit of 18 weeks of pregnancy as the legal cutoff for abortions, instead of the current 28 weeks, he was ready to compromise on the time limit.