Women's Strike presents plan for Friday abortion protest

The Women's Strike movement has presented plans for a mass demonstration on Friday against a recent court ruling that could lead to a near-total ban on abortion.

Last Thursday Poland's constitutional court ruled that a 1993 law permitting abortion when there is severe damage to the foetus was unconstitutional. The verdict sparked mass protests which are continuing throughout the country.

The demonstration in Warsaw will begin at three points in the city - the prime ministers's office, Zamkowy (Castle) Square and Zawiszy Square.

Agnieszka Czerederecka from the Women's Strike said the route of the protest was as yet undecided. She also appealed to protesters not to sign any fine slips handed to them by police.

The movement's Klementyna Suchanow warned that demonstrators could be exposed to provocateurs, and advised to report any acts of aggression.

Outlining protest plans for the coming days, the Women's Strike said that further blockades are planned in cities across Poland on Monday, and a "solidarity chain" protest across smaller towns on Wednesday.