NH gov vetoes partial-birth abortion ban

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has vetoed a bill banning partial-birth abortions, saying it was unnecessary because such procedures are already prohibited under federal law.

Supporters of the bill have said they don't trust the federal government to prosecute its law. But Lynch said the federal law makes a state version unnecessary.

In his veto message Friday, Lynch also said the state version went too far in requiring that two physicians from separate hospitals must determine that a woman's life was in danger before performing a partial-birth abortion.

In a partial-birth abortion, the fetus is partially extracted before being destroyed.