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The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) last week confirmed its view that human cloning should not be used at present for reproductive purposes, but that the development of cloning techniques for therapeutics should not be banned.

The society, meeting in Tours, France, offered to advise politicians on cloning. Its president, Lynn Fraser, professor of reproductive medicine at King's College London, says the membership is broad enough to be able to give independent expert advice.

In the immediate future, she says, the society could help the British parliament decide whether to allow cloning techniques for therapeutic purposes. Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority recommended to parliament in December that these techniques should be allowed.

Last month, however, a parliamentary committee said it needed more time to consider and would seek additional advice. After the birth in 1997 of Dolly the sheep, the ESHRE called for a five-year moratorium on the reproductive cloning of humans.