Oslo - A new common marriage law that would allow same-sex couples in Norway to marry was debated Wednesday in parliament, and generated peaceful protests outside parliament.

Gunn Karin Gjul of the Labour Party said it was "a historic day" and compared the expected passing of the bill later Wednesday to "universal suffrage and the gender equality law."

Critics - mainly from the opposition Christian Democrats and populist Progress Party - said they opposed the proposed legislation giving lesbian couples the same access to "medically assisted reproduction" as heterosexual couples.

Christian Democrat leader Dagfinn Hoybraten called the bill "a big experiment," adding that while his party rejected discrimination of homosexuals it wanted to protect the rights of children.

Children conceived with artificial insemination risk not knowing their biological parents which would violate the United Nations Children's Convention, critics said.

The law was backed by the ruling red-green coalition of the Labour Party, the Centre Party and the Socialist Left Party as well as members of the opposition Conservatives and Liberals.

Socialist Left Party leader Kristin Halvorsen, also finance minister, said the bill was for "equal rights" and against all forms of discrimination.

The ammended law would also allow the Church of Norway and registered religious communities to bless same-sex marriages.

Same-sex couples who have registered their partnership may convert the partnership into marriage, the Ministry of Children and Equality said.

The bill also widens the scope for adoption for same-sex couples. (dpa)