Switzerland has become the first country in the world to put the issue of stem-cell research to a popular vote.
Swiss voters endorsed restrictive legislation on stem-cell research that forbids the cloning of human embryos and put Switzerland on a par with some other continental European countries.
With all Swiss regions reporting, 66.4% of those voting had approved measures that allow scientists to extract stem cells from unwanted embryos to use in research into diseases.
However the rules, which were approved in one of the country's regular referendums, are not as liberal as those in Britain or Belgium, where cloning to extract cells is allowed.
Supporters say stem-cell research offers the chance to better understand conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or diabetes and so come closer to developing treatments.
