Alabama Senate bans nearly all abortions

Alabama's state Senate has passed a bill that would outlaw nearly all abortions, creating exceptions only to safeguard the health of the mother.

The move is part of a multistate effort to have the US Supreme Court reconsider a woman's constitutional right to an abortion.

The bill was previously approved by the Alabama House of Representatives and will now go to Republican Governor Kay Ivey, who has withheld comment on whether she would sign it but generally is a strong opponent of abortion.

The law would take effect six months after being signed by the governor, but is certain to face legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups who have vowed to sue.

Legislation to restrict abortion rights has been introduced in 16 states this year, four of whose governors have signed bills banning abortion if an embryonic heartbeat can be detected.

The Alabama bill goes further, banning abortions at any time.

People who perform abortions would be subject to a felony, punishable by 10 to 99 years in prison, although a woman who receives an abortion would not be held criminally liable.