US congressman's rape pregnancy comment sparks row

A row has broken out in the US after a congressman and Republican candidate for Senate said he believed women's bodies were able to prevent pregnancy in the case of "legitimate rape".

Todd Akin, speaking on a St Louis television programme about his no-exceptions view on abortion, said he understood "the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down".

He later said he had "misspoken" but his Democratic rival said the comments were "beyond comprehension".

Video courtesy FOX 2 KTVI, St Louis