US politician refuses to quit after controversial rape comment

The would-be US Senator who caused a furore by claiming rape victims could automatically prevent themselves becoming pregnant has refused to abandon his election attempt.

Congressman Todd Akin of Missouri had said in a TV interview when asked about abortions for rape victims: "It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare. If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."