Pro-life campaigners today attempted to prevent doctors aboard an "abortion ship" from carrying out terminations at sea outside Spanish jurisdiction.

A flotilla of anti-abortion campaigners followed the Aurora as it took a party of six women from the port of Valencia outside Spanish waters.

The first free abortions were due to start today on board the ship run by the Dutch pro-choice group Women on Waves which aims to put pressure on the Spanish Government to reform the current law.

To get round Spain’s strict laws, abortions using medication not surgery were being carried out more than 12 miles out to sea, in international waters.

When the boat arrived last night in Valencia, it was met with 400 demonstrators on the quayside.

A heavy police presence kept the pro-choice and pro-life campaigners apart.

Opponents dubbed the boat’s arrival a ‘death party’ and said it was a ‘deliberate provocation’.

This is the latest clash between pro-life groups and those campaigning for an update of the current legislation which was introduced in 1985.

In Spain, women have to seek the permission of doctors to have an abortion and must fall within certain criteria. But in international waters, they will be offered abortion on demand.

Spain decriminalised abortion in 1985, allowing terminations up to 12 weeks in the case of rape. Abortions can be permitted up to 22 weeks in cases of severe foetal malformation.

But there is no time limit on abortions if there is a risk to the mother’s physical or mental health.

In reality, many women who want to have abortions claim they will suffer mental health problems and need a psychiatrist to certify this would be the case.

Gynaecologist Josep Luis Carbonell, who is to carry out the abortions, said: “We are doing this to ask the Spanish Government and society that women should have the choice if they want to have an abortion. At present this is not possible and this is an affront to their dignity.”

The abortions will be carried out over 12 miles from Spain’s coast, in international waters.

Among the opponents of the ‘abortion boat’, were Valencia’s conservative mayor, pro-life groups and Catholic medics.

Jose Maria Torres Pons, of the anti-abortion group Provida, said: “They are manipulating women to make a political point. We want to protect their lives and that of their unborn children.”

Spain’s Socialist Government announced last month it will explore ways to reform the current law next year.

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