Ansamed

(ANSAmed) - MADRID, SEPTEMBER 23 - A controversial draft law that would restrict the availability of abortion, backed by Spain's conservative Partido Popular government, was scrapped on Tuesday due to a ''lack of sufficient consensus', said Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. The government will, however, reform the current regulations - which allow abortion without restrictions in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy - so that 16- and 17-year-olds will once again have to obtain parents' permission.

In speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Public Relations World Congress underway in Madrid, Rajoy announced that a Family Protection Plan would be brought in ''by the end of the year''. (ANSAmed).