WICHITA (Kansas) -
The shooting occurred just two weeks after President Barack
Obama sought 'common ground' over the divisive abortion debate in a
controversial speech at one of the top Catholic universities in the
United States.
The president has attempted to defuse one of the most emotive
issues in US public life by arguing that while abortion should
remain legal, the government should do all it can to limit unwanted
pregnancies.
But President Obama has angered the anti-abortion movement by
reversing predecessor George W. Bush's restrictions on federal
funding for embryonic stem-cell research and for family-planning
groups that carry out or facilitate abortions overseas.
President Obama's choice for health secretary, former Kansas
governor Kathleen Sebelius, has been widely condemned by the
anti-abortion movement because of her ties to Dr Tiller.
Dr Tiller, one of the few doctors who still performs
late-term abortions in the United States, has been demonised by
abortion opponents who regularly protested outside his
clinic.
In 1986, someone placed a bomb on the roof of the clinic,
seriously damaging the building. In 1993, Dr Tiller was shot in
both arms outside the clinic. Dr Tiller recovered, and his
assailant received an 11-year prison term.
Late-term abortions are legal in Kansas if two independent
physicians agree that the mother could suffer irreparable harm by
giving birth. -- AFP