51.   Until Saturday, abortions were only allowed under specific circumstances such as rape or incest.

52.   However, there is opposition from certain groupings within the ANC to allowing abortion on demand.

53.   It also allows abortions after that period if there is a grave danger to health.

54.   Other Christian and Moslem groups have held demonstrations against allowing abortions under any circumstances, advocating celibacy until marriage instead.

55.   She said that despite allowing abortions in cases of rape, the Thai legal system was such that authorisation of an abortion could take up to nine months.

56.   The law only allows abortion in cases where the health of the mother is at stake or pregnancy was caused by rape.