Nicaragua ? President Enrique Bolanos signed a bill Friday banning abortion in all cases – including when a woman’s life is endangered – despite opposition from doctors, women’s rights groups and diplomats.

Presidential spokesman Lindolfo Mojarretz told The Associated Press that Bolanos signed the bill Friday and that it will become law when it appears in the official register today.

Previously, Nicaragua allowed abortions if three doctors certified that the woman’s health was at risk. The law signed Friday eliminates that century-old exception.

The six-year prison term for performing illegal abortions remains unchanged under the new law. There had been doubt about whether Bolanos would sign the law because he had sought stiffer sentences of up to 30 years for women who had abortions and for those who aided them.