A Mexico City law that allows abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is being challenged before the nation's Supreme Court. Abortions will continue, pending the ruling, The Associated Press reported.
The debate over abortion pits Mexico City's leftist government against conservative President Felipe Calderón and the Roman Catholic Church. The legal challenges were filed by two federal agencies, according to the report.
Elsewhere in Mexico, abortion is allowed only in cases of rape, when the mother's life is in danger, or if the preborn baby has severe deformities.
The federal government argues that the Mexico City assembly, which is similar to a state legislature, does not have the authority to make health laws.
