A group of people assemble at the Times Square in New York City, the US on Saturday to protest the new Texas ban on abortion. Photo: AFP

Texans on Saturday once again found themselves living under a ban on most abortions following a ruling by a US federal appeals court which came just days after they were temporarily allowed.

The Friday decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily set aside a Wednesday ruling, and effectively reinstated the ban on most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Planned Parenthood said in a statement that appointments for patients seeking abortions after six weeks of pregnancy would be canceled until further notice.

The whiplash and temporary nature of the rulings meant only a fraction of Texas' abortion clinics had begun conducting the procedure again beyond what was allowed under the ban.

Anti-abortion groups cheered the latest move.

"This is an answered prayer," Kimberlyn Schwartz, the media and communication director of Texas Right to Life, said in a statement.

On Wednesday, US District Judge Robert Pitman had granted the request from President Joe Biden's administration, issuing a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of the Texas law. Pitman said it violated the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, which enshrined a woman's legal right to an abortion.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, appealed that decision, and the appeal was granted Friday.

The US government has until Tuesday to respond, according to court filings. 

After that, the court can decide whether to allow the law to remain in place or to let a lower court temporarily block the ban again.

AFP