Portugal Observes Day of Contemplation Before Abortion Vote
By The Associated Press
Sat, Feb. 10 2007

LISBON, Portugal (AP) - The Portuguese were observing an official day of contemplation Saturday, a day before a referendum on liberalizing abortion in this conservative Catholic nation.

A two-week campaigning period was suspended 24 hours before the referendum, allowing the country's 8.9 million registered voters to mull their decision before casting ballots on Sunday.

Portugal has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the European Union, alongside Poland, Ireland and Malta. It allows abortion only until the 12th week of pregnancy if the mother has been raped, her health is in danger or the fetus is malformed.

The referendum — the second after a 1998 ballot on the same issue did not gather enough votes to change the law — will ask the Portuguese if they support liberalizing abortion for all women until the 10th week of pregnancy. the rest