Swiss vote goes against animals

Swiss voters yesterday soundly rejected a plan to appoint special lawyers for animals that are abused by humans, dealing a blow to advocates who say Switzerland's elaborate animal rights laws aren't being enforced.

Official results showed that 70.5 per cent of voters cast their ballot against the proposal to extend nationwide a system that has been in place in Zurich since 1992.

Some 29.5 per cent of voters backed the proposal, with officials putting the turnout at just over 45 per cent.