G7 tussels over abortion as Italy accused of attacking rights [Video]

The US pushed back hard Thursday against a reported attempt by Italy to water down a G7 leaders’ declaration on abortion by removing a reference to “safe and legal” terminations.

Diplomatic sources said host Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been trying to row back on language in the G7 statement from Japan last year, much to the irritation of her fellow Group of Seven countries.

US President Joe Biden “felt very strongly that we needed to have at the very least the language that references what we did in Hiroshima on women’s health and reproductive rights,” a unnamed senior US administration official said Thursday.

“The communique will have, will reiterate the commitment made in Hiroshima,” the official said.

Meloni’s office denies abortion rights have been slashed from the draft final summit statement, saying negotiations are ongoing with Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the US.

On Wednesday, a source close …