It said the court in the central town of Coimbra on Monday rejected a motion filed by women's groups who had challenged the government ruling as a violation of human rights and the right of Portuguese citizens to travel freely, as guaranteed by the European Union under the Schengen "open borders" agreement.

The court, however, said that although the so-called "abortion boat" was not allowed to enter Portugal's territorial waters, the team of volunteers on board could very well come to Portugal to engage in a debate on abortion.

Doctor Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of the the Women on Waves Foundation, which manages the floating clinic, denounced the court's decision saying that it marked yet another defeat for Portuguese women.

"The law has forgotten Portuguese women, who are treated like criminals, humiliated and who are forced to put their life and health at risk when we can offer them a sure and dignified alternative," she said.

Cristina Santos, of the Nao te Prives (Don't deprive yourself) association, denounced the court decision saying it was proof that the country's judicial system lacked courage.

But Defence Minister Paulo Portas, who took the decision to bar the ship from national waters, welcomed the court ruling.

"The Portuguese law has been made clear -- through political and administrative decisions and now through the court ruling," he said. "It would be inappropriate to try to defy that law."

The standoff between the Portuguese government and Dutch boat began on August 28 when the ship, the Borndiep, was refused permission to enter Portuguese waters.

The government said the measure was intended to ensure respect for the country's strict laws against abortion.

Abortion is illegal in overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Portugal except when the mother's life is in danger or in certain specified conditions, such as the risk of damage to physical or mental health, sexual violence or possible congenital deformity.

The clinic, which does not have a permit to perform medical abortions, intended to stay for two weeks in Portugal to hand out abortion pills to women with unwanted pregnancies of up to six and a half weeks.

The pills would have been distributed in international waters, where Portuguese law does not apply.

Family planning agencies estimate that between 20,000 and 40,000 illegal abortions, some of them fatal, are carried out in Portugal each year. Thousands more women go abroad to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

Gomperts said her organization would not be deterred by the court decision and would publish on its internet site practical information for women who want an abortion.

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