Brazil debates gay marriages

Roman Catholic and Protestant organisations in Brazil have stepped up pressure on legislators to oppose a bill recognising marriages between people of the same sex ahead of a vote in Congress.

The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops and the National Conference of Protestant Priests say they will campaign against the re-election of all members of Congress voting to pass the legislation.

The bill would allow homosexual people to transfer property assets and extend their personal benefits to their partners.

Correspondents say that if the bill became law, Brazil - which has the world's largest Roman Catholic population - would be the first country in Latin America to allow same-sex unions.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service