n Tuesday, the conservative island republic of Singapore relaxed some of its more stringent laws criminalizing certain types of intercourse, but did not lift sex laws pertaining to homosexuals.

In what was the conservative Asian nation's first amendment to a major penal code in some 22 years, Singapore's parliament repealed a section criminalizing "carnal intercourse against the order of nature," which includes oral sex, but refused to budge on code 377A, which makes sex between men a criminal offense.

The new changes to Singapore's penal code officially decriminalizes anal and oral sex between two consenting heterosexual adults, but does not offer the same protections to gays and lesbians.

Although opponents of the law banning homosexual relations say it is an antiquated relic of British colonial rule and an unconstitutional mistreatment of minorities, legislators in favor of the law say it is a necessary restriction designed to retain family values in the conservative nation.

Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Ho Peng Kee, who opposes lifting the ban for homosexuals, said it was important for society to retain certain restrictions on sexual behavior.

"While homosexuals have a place in society... repealing section 377A will be contentious and may send a wrong signal that the government is encouraging and endorsing the homosexual lifestyle as part of our mainstream way of life," Ho said.

Although the law is rarely enforced, convicted violators of section 377A face up to tow years in jail.