DHAKA: Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has announced plans to end a total ban on abortions in the predominantly Roman Catholic country.

Bachelet has tabled a bill in Congress to legalise abortion in cases of rape or when there is a threat to the mother’s or the baby’s life, reports the BBC.

Abortion is punishable in Chile by up to five years in jail.

The absolute ban of abortion puts the lives of thousands of Chilean women at risk every year, said Bachelet.

She went on national television to announce the plans.

‘Facts have shown that the absolute criminalization of abortion has not stopped the practice,’ she said.

‘This is a difficult situation and we must face it as a mature country.’

BDST: 1356 HRS, FEB 01, 2015