Posted at 6:38 a.m. PST Tuesday, March 4, 1997

WASHINGTON (AP) — Concerned that U.S. researchers might soon attempt to duplicate a human being, President Clinton today imposed a ban on federal funds for any human cloning experiments.

In issuing the directive, Clinton said in a written statement he does not believe federal funds should be used for human cloning and current restrictions do not fully assure that result.

Also, Clinton asked for a voluntary moratorium on human cloning experiments anywhere in the United States — at least until the legal and ethical issues can be sorted out. Since privately funded scientists are not covered by Clinton's directive, only a voluntary moratorium would ensure that ethical issues are fully debated before there are any efforts to clone humans.

Citing the cloning of an adult sheep in Scotland, Clinton asked the National Bioethics Advisory Commission last week to review the ramifications that cloning would have on humans and report back to him in 90 days.

But Clinton decided to restrict the use of federal funds, an administration official said, after learning that researchers in Oregon had cloned two rhesus monkeys from embryos — the world's first cloned primates and the closest step yet to humans.

Researchers said they created the monkey clones with the goal of making research cheaper and more efficient. They said they have no desire to reproduce a human double.

Previously, Clinton approved a ban on federal funding for research on human embryos, experiments which might hold promise for the treatment of disease.

Besides cloning, the bioethics commission also is examining research in animal husbandry, biogenetic research and general biotechnology.