The HAGUE Anti-euthanasia protests that brought 8,000 demonstrators onto the streets to try to persuade the Senate to abort a law to legalize mercy killings surprised the Dutch media Wednesday, AFP reported.

Earlier controversial laws legalizing prostitution and allowing same-sex marriages passed without controversy.

When the Lower House adopted the new euthanasia law in November as a precursor to the Senate rubber-stamping, there were no demonstrations.

"Protests Against Euthanasia Law in Vain", headlined the right-wing **** Algemeen Dagblad *** paper.

"About 10,000 protesters tried one last time to convince the Senate to reject the euthanasia legislation, in vain," wrote the center-left *** De Volkskrant *** daily under a front-page picture showing the demo.

The Dutch senators passed the new law Tuesday by a 46 to 28 majority making the Netherlands the first country in the world to authorize mercy killing, albeit under specific conditions.

The size of the protests surprised many in this country known for its controversial social policies, including the demo organizers themselves, who were made up mainly of Christian organizations, according to the left-wing daily *** Trouw.****