RU486 can induce abortion if taken within seven weeks of pregnacy

He said that since abortion became legal and information on birth control became widely available, the number of abortions in Italy has declined steadily.

The drug was first launched in France over a decade ago, and is currently available in many other European countries.

The pill was approved for sale by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October.

The drug is controversial because it causes an abortion if taken within the first 49 days of pregnancy.

Highly effective

There have also been some concerns over its side-effects, which include heavy bleeding and nausea.

RU486 is available in more than a dozen countries across the world, including Britain, and has been used by millions of women.

Studies have shown that the pill, which works by blocking a hormone needed to sustain pregnancy, is 95% effective.

The pill suppresses the body's production of a hormone called progesterone, causing the uterine lining to thin and reject an implanted embryo.