Sweden proposes gay adoption law

The Swedish Government says it wants to give homosexual couples the right to adopt children.

The country was among the first to recognise gay partnerships as equal to heterosexual ones, but at the time decided there was not sufficient public support to give lesbian and gay couples adoption rights.

Correspondents say the Swedish Government proposals are likely to be approved now, as they have the support of most political parties.

Correspondents say about half of western European countries have given gay partnerships some recognition, but only the Netherlands has so far given them the same status as married couples - including the right to adopt children.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service