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GV Women gather around petition tables
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SV Petition table and slogans
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SV Girl reading abortion posters (2 shots)
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SV Woman studying slogans
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SV Pregnant woman with children in push-chair
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SV Women sign petition (4 shots)
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CU Man signing, followed by children signing (3 shots)
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Initials OS/2131 OS/2140



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Members of the Italian Women's Liberation Movement took to the streets of Rome yesterday (June 26) in a campaign for legal abortions. They set up tables on the pavements, handing out campaigning leaflets setting out their case and getting signatures for a petition demanding legal abortions.

SYNOPSIS: Members of the Italian Women's Liberation Movement took to the streets of Rome on Saturday in their campaign for legal abortions. They set up tables on the pavements handing out leaflets and calling for signatures to a public petition for abortions.

The women claim that between one and three million illegal abortions are carried out every year in Italy -- a Roman Catholic country -- resulting in the deaths of about 20,000 women annually. Much of the opposition to abortion comes from the strong Catholic influence in Italy, for the operation is regarded by them as the killing of a human being -- albeit unborn. The demand for the operation to be made legal is growing, however, and Saturday's campaign attracted considerable attention.