In Northern Ireland, police erected barriers as hundreds gathered to protest the country's first abortion clinic.

Northern Ireland is the only corner of the United Kingdom that has not legalized abortion on demand.

Marie Stopes International, a British charity that already operates similar clinics in more than 40 countries, is behind the new clinic.

"I expect the heads of government to run Marie Stopes out of Northern Ireland," the protest leader, Bernadette Smyth, with the group Precious Life, told supporters. "Those who have come ... storm heaven with your prayers!"

The center will offer the abortion pill to women who are less than nine weeks pregnant, but only if a doctor determines they're at risk of death or long-term health damage from their pregnancy.