ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 4, 1990                   TAG: 9004040660
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM                                LENGTH: Short

KING STEPS ASIDE RATHER THAN SIGN LAW ON ABORTION

King Baudouin, a Catholic, stepped down temporarily today rather than sign into law a bill ending the country's 123-year ban on abortion.

After relieving the king as head of state, the government enacted the abortion bill and asked Parliament to restore him as monarch at a special session on Thursday.

The unusual move, made at the king's request, let the government enact legislation to allow abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and relieved the king of his constitutional duty to sign into law a bill he opposes. Parliament adopted the bill last week.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB