Thousands rally against proposed abortion laws

DUBLIN - At least 10,000 people rallied in Dublin on Saturday against Irish government plans to ease some of the world's most restrictive abortion laws, with some activists saying opinion polls were failing to fully reflect anti-abortion sentiment.

The rally, which was organized by a local nonpolitical party-affiliated organization under the slogan Save The Eighth, came a day after the lower house of the Irish parliament started debating a government-tabled bill proposing to hold a referendum by the end of May to repeal the eighth amendment of the Constitution.

The government has said it will begin drafting legislation in line with the recommendations made by an all-party parliamentary committee for terminations with no restrictions to be allowed up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy.