The group Gift of Life said it was encouraged that MEP Simon Busuttil is supporting a proposal to challenge, in the European courts, the funding of research on stem cells through the use of European funds, including funds paid in taxes by Malta.

It is proactive action such as this that can be termed as being truly pro-life in substance, Gift of Life said.

It expressed concern over MEP Joseph Muscat's comments on the matter.

"It was reported in The Times on September 20 that Mr Muscat said he was 'in two hearts and two minds' on the issue: while totally anti-abortion in the belief that the embryo is alive," the group said.

Mr Muscat seems to feel it can be ethically acceptable to destroy a human life in the form of an embryo in view of the possibility that other lives may be saved, Gift of Life said.

"We reject in the strongest possible terms any insinuation that the value of human life at any stage of development may be exchanged as though it were some form of tradable commodity," Gift of Life remarked.

If Mr Muscat and his colleagues had any doubts as to how ethical it may be to destroy another human being through embryonic stem cell research, they should have rejected the initial proposal presented to MEPs and not abstained from protecting the embryo in the first instance, the group added.