Arkansas bans nearly all abortions in sweeping measure

Law, which supporters hope will force the supreme court to revisit Roe v Wade, does not provide exceptions for cases of rape or incest

Arkansas has passed a new law banning nearly all abortions in the state, a sweeping measure that supporters hope will force the US supreme court to revisit Roe v Wade but opponents vow to block before it takes effect later this year.

The state's Republican governor, Asa Hutchinson, said he was signing the bill because of its overwhelming legislative support and my sincere and long-held pro-life convictions".