Swiss voters opt to keep military service
AAP Updated September 23, 2013, 12:01 am
Swiss voters have opted against abolishing the country's mandatory military service in a referendum.
The initiative by the Group for a Switzerland without an Army was rejected by more than two thirds of the voters on Sunday.
The pacifist group had advocated the introduction of a voluntary service, rather than adopting the example of other European countries that have switched to professional armies.
The government had spoken out against abolishing the current system, arguing that there would be a lack of volunteers and that this would endanger Switzerland's ability to defend itself.
