Coma woman's death fuels Italy row

Questions are being asked in Italy about the death of an Italian woman at the centre of a controversial right-to-die debate.

After 17 years in a coma Eluana Engaro has died.

Her feeding tube was withdrawn four days ago after a long legal battle by her father.

She'd been in a vegetative state since a car crash in 1992.

Many in Italy were furious about the decision, including the Catholic church and a number of right-wing politicians.

MPs had been debating a bill to make the suspension of food illegal when news of her death emerged.

Some are now questioning why she died so quickly when doctors had expected her to live for several more weeks.

At the Senate in Rome the Italian flag is flying at half mast.

Below it a group of protestors demand the current law remains unchanged.

One opposition MP supports them.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) OPPOSITION SENATOR, EMMA BONINO SAYING:

"'It is not for the state, or this government majority or another government majority to impose on anyone how they should live or how they should die.'

The government has now withdrawn the legislation for further discussion.

But the issue continues to split the country.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, LAURA LICHIERI SAYING:

"I am happy that she has finished suffering. After arriving at this point there was just nothing that could be done and she deserved a peaceful death."

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, FRANCESCO ZARLI SAYING:

"I don't think this has been taken seriously enough. I am against this right to die."

The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was one of those trying to overturn the ruling.

It may finally be the end for Eluana but the debate about her right-to-die is far from over.

Sonia Legg, Reuters.