Parliament in Togo has passed a law banning female genital mutilation.

Theparliamentary human rights commission said the practice attacked women's physical integrity and could not be justified either by religion or culture.

The new law provides for heavy fines and prison terms of up to ten years, but correspondents say it may be difficult to enforce, especially in rural areas.

The United Nations has long been trying to outlaw the practice -- sometimes known as female circumcision -- which is widespread in parts of Africa, especially in Muslim areas.