A French scientist has claimed that the cult to which she belongs has produced the first-ever cloned human being.
Brigitte Boisselier, a member of the Raelian cult, which believes that mankind was created by extra-terrestrials, made the announcement today.
The baby girl, who is called 'Eve', was born yesterday by caesarean section and according to Ms Boisselier, the birth 'went very well'.
Ms Boisselier, a former research chemist in France, is also director of the agency Clonaid. However she offered no proof of her claim.
She said the results of genetic testing of the child by an independent expert would be available in 8-9 days.
US President George W Bush asked Congress to ban the creation of cloned babies as well as the cloning of human embryos for medical research. The US House of Representatives passed a ban, but a similar bill in the Senate stalled after scientists argued such a law would hinder medical advances.
Clonaid spokeswoman Nadine Gary said the baby had been born outside the US, but she declined to say exactly where.
