Protest at lunchtime abortions

LONDON - Anti abortion campaigners are calling for an investigation into a charity offering a pregnancy termination service aimed…

LONDON - Anti abortion campaigners are calling for an investigation into a charity offering a pregnancy termination service aimed to fit into a working woman's lunch hour. The technique involves the minimal dilation of the cervix and is carried out using the vacuum aspiration method.

It is to be offered by Marie Stopes International at clinics in London, Leeds and Manchester from next month. Officials at the charity said they aimed to "remove the stigma" from abortion for women less than 12 weeks pregnant and to fit in with their busy working lives. The procedure could take as little as 10 minutes.

Ms Josephine Quintavalle of the anti-abortion group Life said: "I don't think a child's life should be disposed of in a lunch hour" and questioned the basis on which Marie Stopes had a charitable status.