Both Poland's prime minister and the powerful leader of the conservative ruling party have said they support a total ban on abortion.

Abortion is currently only allowed in rare cases in mostly Catholic Poland, such as in rape cases or if the foetus is damaged.

However, a new civic group called "Stop Abortion" is gathering support to impose a total ban. The movement is supported by Poland's Roman Catholic Church.

Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, both Catholics, announced on Thursday that they support the total ban.

Their party, which has a parliamentary majority, won power last year promising a return to traditional Catholic values.

In a statement to be read in churches on Sunday, Poland's bishops are calling for the protection of human life "from conception to natural death".

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