Foetus law

THE US House of Representatives approved legislation that would make killing or harming a “child in utero” a federal crime, hoping the strong 254-163 vote will give the issue momentum in the Senate.

Critics said the bill undermines abortion rights by treating the foetus or embryo as a person, although bill sponsors said they included language that explicitly excludes abortion.

President Bush said in a statement: “I urge the Senate to pass this bill so that I can sign it into law.”