Dead is Dead, Man

EU countries are pushing for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty. But European Union consensus has fractured over Poland's determination to link the issue with abortion and euthanasia.

Poland's refusal to go along with its fellow 26 E.U. member states has stymied the bloc's plans to mark an official "European day against the death penalty" next month.

Poland argued that the EU should instead celebrate a "right to life" day, with abortion and euthanasia on the agenda, too.

Germany's Spiegel reported that a further stir was created by reading aloud abortion figures for Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

Poland is one of just three E.U. member states -- the others are Ireland and Malta --to prohibit abortion on demand.

The Paris-based group Together Against the Death Penalty expressed deep disappointment over the turn of events, and said the death penalty issue could not be linked with those of abortion and euthanasia.