Thousands rally against proposed abortion laws

In the largest protest of the campaign so far, a march over 1 kilometer long snaked across the capital, with a few demonstrators holding up pictures of aborted fetuses.

Dozens of vehicles decorated with anti-abortion slogans were deployed and a small aircraft towing a huge banner was also used.

Irish state broadcaster RTE estimated that tens of thousands of people took part, while organizers claimed the figure was close to 100,000.

The rally took place after pro-choice protesters demonstrated on Thursday in favor of liberalizing abortion laws.

"If the eighth amendment is repealed it will destroy Ireland," said John O'Leary, an unemployed 50-year-old holding a banner of Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint.

Abortion has long been a divisive issue in the country where a complete ban was lifted only in 2013 when terminations were allowed in cases where the mother's life was in danger.

Two opinion polls in January found that over 50 percent of voters would support a proposal to allow abortion up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy, with just under 30 percent opposed and the rest undecided.

However, the polls showed a sharp generational divide, with a clear majority of voters over 65 opposed.

"I am canvassing three times a week and people are anti-abortion, they are just afraid to say it," said Deirdre Lawless, 32, a schoolteacher from the rural west of Ireland.

Reuters - Xinhua