Abstract:
The Spanish government has appointed a group of experts to advise on liberalizing abortion law by the end of 2009 or early 2010, the equality minister said on Thursday.
"We can't have a situation where a woman who needs to terminate a pregnancy can have legal problems," Bibiana Aido said.
"That's why we need a serious, calm and high-level debate which contributes to the drawing up of the best law possible."
Spain decriminalized abortion in 1985, 10 years after the death of right-wing dictator Francisco Franco, but while the number of abortions has doubled in the past decade, the practice is controversial in the traditionally Catholic country.
Abortion is permitted in certain cases, for example up to 12 weeks for women who have been raped or up to 22 weeks if a fetus is malformed. It is also available if a birth poses a psychological risk to the mother.
