Amnesty: Pregnant child, 11, must be allowed abortion

SANTIAGO, Chile — Amnesty International says an 11-year-old girl who was raped by her mother's partner in Chile should be allowed all medical options, including an abortion.

Abortions, even for medical reasons and in the case of rape, have been illegal since Gen. Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship. President Sebastian Pinera's government opposes any easing of the ban.

The human rights group said Thursday that "the Chilean State must provide" her with "all the psychological and medical support she needs," and make all options available, "including safe abortion services."

The girl who is 14 weeks pregnant was repeatedly raped over the course of two years by her mother's partner. He has been arrested and has confessed to abusing the fifth grader.

The case has ignited a heated national debate over abortion in socially-conservative Chile.