Portugal says yes to gay marriage

Marriage for gays and lesbians in Portugal has been legalised by the country's parliment.

Portugal is the sixth country in Europe to grant same-sex couples the right to wed, although this will not include adoption rights. The other countries are Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

Addressing lawmakers before the vote, prime minister Jose Socrates said the law "rights a wrong" and would end "pointless suffering".

He added that the issue of adoption was different, as it didn't "just involve adults who are free to give their consent."

The law will remove any references to gender in the country's marriage laws. It's expected to come into force in April, a month before Pope Benedict XVI visits the country.