US: Thousands of abortion opponents marched at the weekend in protest at the 33-year-old US Supreme Court decision legalising abortion, while abortion rights supporters along the route waved clothes hangers and shouted "Bigots go home".
The protests - marking yesterday's anniversary of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision - reflected the growing tension at a time the make-up of the high court is about to change with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement.
"It's a crucial time," said abortion rights supporter Carol Norris (43), who joined the counter-protest in San Francisco. "We have [Judge Samuel] Alito poised to be on the Supreme Court, and he's clearly an anti-choice person."
Student Laura Arnold (20), of Pleasanton, California, who marched with her mother opposing abortion, said: "We're here to stand up for the babies that don't have a voice."