FROM bloggers in Africa to political commentators in the UK - support is gathering across the globe for Harry Cohen's gay rights Commons motion.

An Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled by the Wanstead MP attacking the Ugandan government's plan to introduce the death penalty for gays has won the backing of people from around the world.

The motion, which has also been supported by more than 20 MPs, calls for the British government and European Union to apply pressure on the Ugandan administration over its Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which would make some homosexual acts punishable by death.

After citing the wording of the motion, a blogger on Ugandan gay website GayUganda said: "Uganda is part of the international community, and does have to live by the International agreements it has signed (the bill wants to nullify all of them). In the interests of keeping Uganda as a Homosexuality Free Zone."

Outspoken political commentator Rod Liddle, also backed Mr Cohen's motion on The Spectator magazine's website.

The Early Day Motion says the bill would violate the equality and non-discrimination provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter of Human and People's Rights.

It calls on the British government to ask Uganda to decriminalise homosexuality and outlaw discrimination, in line with “international humanitarian law”.

Early Day Motions are rarely debated in the Commons, but are used to draw attention to issues.