BOSTON - Seven US cardinals read an open letter to President Clinton yesterday, urging him to sign a measure that would ban the so called partial birth abortion procedure.
"Mr President, you are in a unique position to ensure respect for all human rights, including the right to life which is denied to infants who are brutally killed in partial birth abortion," according to the letter.
"We urge you to ask Congress to pass a Bill banning partial birth abortions, and let it be known that you will sign it into law," the letter continued.
The procedure involves the partial extraction of the foetus feet first, the subsequent suctioning out of the brain and removal of the foetus. Mr Clinton said on Friday that any law on the contentious procedure should make sure that it is available to the few women who, truly need it.