North Dakota tightens up abortion law

NORTH Dakota’s Republican governor has signed legislation that would make it the most restrictive US state on abortion rights, banning the procedure if a foetal heartbeat can be detected – something that can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

Governor Jack Dalrymple also signed into law another measure that would make North Dakota the first US state to ban abortions that are based on genetic defects, such as Down’s syndrome.

The measures yesterday are fuelled in part by an attempt to close the state’s sole abortion clinic in Fargo.