US Justice Department seeks order against Texas abortion law

Women protest against the six-week abortion ban at the Capitol in Austin, Texas (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

The US Justice Department has asked a federal court in Texas to stop the enforcement of a new state law banning most abortions in the jurisdiction while it decides the case.

The Texas law, known as SB8, prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually at around six weeks, before some women know they are pregnant.