Iran's conservative-dominated parliament approved a draft bill yesterday that would allow abortion in the first four months of pregnancy if the mother's life is in danger or the fetus is malformed.

A further vote is required on details, but it is usually a formality and cannot reverse the general approval. The bill also requires approval by the Guardian Council, which vets all legislation.

However, top conservative lawmakers visited religious leaders last week in Qom, known as Iran's Vatican City, and won their support for the action to avoid controversy in Iran's highly religious society.

"Under the bill, abortion is allowed for two purposes: one to protect the life of mother and the other if the fetus is malformed," lawmaker Ali Baghbanian said in parliament.

Under the bill, which passed on a voice vote, abortion is not allowed for unwanted pregnancies. "Islamic Sharia has not allowed other cases of abortion, such as for social and economic reasons," Baghbanian said.

He said illegal abortions are being carried out in Iran, endangering the lives of mothers, but he said there were no official statistics available.

According to the bill, a committee including forensic doctors and an obstetrician must sign off on an abortion after medical tests.