Belgium surprised at international euthanasia backlash

The lower house of the Belgian Parliament is seen during its plenary session in Brussels February 13, 2014. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian media expressed rank incomprehension over foreign criticism of the country's extension of euthanasia to children, portraying legislation as humane and dismissing any notion of sick children being pressed to their deaths.

Thursday's vote, the first to extend such provisions to children without any age limit, passed as easily as 2002 legislation allowing euthanasia for adults that had backing from 75 percent of Belgians. It created only minor ripples of dissent in the country, but a wave of interest and fury abroad.