Washington: A US appeals court on Friday temporarily halted mail delivery of mifepristone, the medication used in the majority of abortions in the United States, although a company distributing the drug said it would appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals delivered the order in a lawsuit brought by the southern state of Louisiana, which has some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country, against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The order by the conservative-dominated court requires women seeking abortions anywhere in the United States to obtain mifepristone in person from health clinics, and bans delivery by mail or through a pharmacy.

Danco Laboratories, one of two companies distributing the drug in the United States, asked for a one-week pause on the appeals court order while it prepares to bring an emergency case to the US Supreme Court.

"Danco requests a temporary administrative stay of the Panel's Order for one week...…