Story highlights Mike Huckabee opposes exceptions in abortion bans

"There are two victims. One is the child; the other is that birth mother," he says

(CNN) Mike Huckabee says his opposition to abortion rights in any circumstances won't change after Paraguay refused a 10-year-old rape victim access to the procedure.

The former Arkansas governor who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination called the girl's rape a tragedy in an interview with CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" Sunday.

But he said: "Let's not compound a tragedy by taking yet another life."

"A 10-year-old girl being raped is horrible. But does it solve a problem by taking the life of an innocent child? And that's really the issue," Huckabee said.

He said his opposition to abortion is based in part on its lasting effects, including that of the woman making the decision.

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