Toni Abela insists he opposes abortion

Labour deputy leader Toni Abela insisted yesterday he opposed abortion in the wake of comments he made on last Tuesday's TV discussion programme Dissett.

In a statement yesterday, Dr Abela said he would continue to be in favour of the right to life in accordance with his party's position.

On the programme, he said, he had been asked about a 2003 interview by a newspaper where he was questioned about abortion in the context of the war in the Balkans. Dr Abela had reiterated a position he had taken seven years ago when he said he agreed with abortion in specific cases, especially when it came to rape or children being born with disability.

Dr Abela said he was the only lawyer who had sought an injunction to stop a woman from going abroad to have an abortion.

"I gave the service against no payment, and as everyone who knows me knows, I do not fight cases I don't believe in," he continued.