France forbids human cloning

Jospin has previously expresssed his support for human reproductive cloning

PARIS, France -- Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin's government has adopted a draft law to ban human cloning in medical research.

After months of debate, the French Cabinet took on the proposal despite past declarations of support from Jospin for the technology's potential benefits in treating and curing disease.

The draft law places severe restrictions on the use of frozen embryos -- created as part of a fertility programme but no longer needed or claimed by the parents -- for the purposes of medical research.

UK scientists on Wednesday called for a global ban on human reproductive cloning, which could theoretically be used to create a new person.

President Jacques Chirac, a staunch opponent of the procedure, welcomed the legislation.

He said the country should prioritise other methods of advancing cell therapy and urged adoption of the law in parliament before elections due to be held next spring.

Britain has legalised such cloning in medical research, also known as therapeutic cloning. But many other countries are still updating their laws to try to keep pace with scientific developments.

Advocates of human embryo cloning for medical research claim the practice could lead to the discovery of treatments for illnesses currently deemed incurable.

But opponents fear it would open the door to malpractice such as cloning of children and embryo trafficking.