Story highlights Stepfather arrested in 10-year-old girl's rape case; he denies wrongdoing and demands DNA test

Paraguayan law bans abortions except in cases where mother's life is in jeopardy

Health minister says girl's life isn't at risk, and that government will oversee her prenatal care

(CNN) A man in Paraguay accused of raping his 10-year-old stepdaughter and getting her pregnant was arrested Saturday, police said.

Benitez Gilberto Zarate, 42, had fled in the wake of the accusation against him. But he denied any wrongdoing to police and local media, and has demanded a DNA test on the unborn child to back up his claim.

An international rights group is pressing the Paraguayan government to allow an abortion for the girl -- a procedure that health officials in the South American country have so far blocked.

At issue is Paraguayan law, which bans abortions except in cases where the pregnancy endangers the mother's life. The Paraguayan Ministry of Health says there's no indication that the health of the girl, now 22 weeks' pregnant, is at risk.

But the girl's family is asking for an abortion, and Amnesty International is backing the family. The group says her age should trigger the health exception and argues that pregnancy poses health risks to young girls whose bodies aren't fully developed.

Read More