BBC News Online: World: Europe

UK embryo research allowed

Campaigners have begun lobbying the upper chamber of parliament in London, after the lower house, the Commons, voted to relax laws on research into human embryos.

MPs decided to ease restrictions in the hope of advancing the treatment of nervous diseases like Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's.

Researchers want to take so-called stem cells from embryos less than two weeks old, and grow them into human tissue.

Scientists and groups representing people with illnesses have welcomed the vote.

But the Roman Catholic Church and other opponents say the research is immoral.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service