WASHINGTON: The US Justice Department said on Thursday that it will go to the Supreme Court to appeal restrictions imposed on a widely-used abortion pill in the latest round of an intensifying battle over reproductive rights.

The move by the administration of President Joe Biden came just hours after an appeals court blocked moves to ban mifepristone, but limited access to the drug used for more than half of the abortions in the United States.

`We will be seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court... to protect Americans` access to safe and effective reproductive care,` US Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre said, `We believe that the law is on our side, and we will prevail.` Late on Wednesday, the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals said mifepristone should remain available for now, but limited access to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, down from 10.-AFP