Dutch abortion ship sets sail for Morocco

RABAT (AFP) - A Dutch "abortion boat" has set sail for Morocco, its first trip to a Muslim country, to provide abortions to women who are exposed to grave health risks if treated domestically, its organiser said on Monday.

"The ship is on its way. We can't yet disclose the place and time of arrival... We expect it to stay for up to a week." Ms Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of the Dutch non-profit organisation Women on Waves, told AFP.

The group says that, according to figures published by the Moroccan government, between 600 and 800 abortions take place every day in the north African kingdom, where the procedure is illegal and taboo.

"The problem is that only about 200 cases are done properly, by women who have money," the Dutch abortion doctor said, with the rest resorting to dangerous methods because they are unable to afford the expensive treatment.