He was reacting to statements from Judith Richter, a scientist-turned-activist from Germany and representative of the `Global Network for Women's Rights', who was trying to interrupt a session where Talwar was speaking on a different topic during the conference.

Talwar, who is now with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, denied India had stopped work on the vaccine.

``The chapter is not closed,'' he said. ``Work is continuing to improve it so that it works in all women.'' In its present form it works in only 80 out of 100 women who must take it two or three times a year.

He said contrary to propaganda by women activists, the World Health Organisation too had not abandoned work on its own anti-fertility vaccine.Pointing out that the contraceptivevaccine ``widens the option'', he appealed to women activists to base their criticism, ``on facts, not fallacies'.

Indian research on the birth control vaccine, however, found support from several participants at the conference.