Sierra Leonean President says no to legalising abortion    

Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma has refused to sign a bill legalising abortion, saying it should be put to a referendum. 

The bill was passed by Members of Parliament  in December, but Mr Koroma refused to sign it after protests by religious leaders.

The law if passed, will allow women to terminate a pregnancy in any circumstances up to 12 weeks and in cases of incest and rape, up to 24 weeks. 

Abortion is currently illegal in Sierra Leone under any circumstances. 

Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and five Sierra Leonean organisations, wrote to President Koroma in February urging him to give the bill his assent.

BBC