Another bridge to the 21st Century

Swiss Voters Lift Restriction on Abortions Swiss voters agreed today to ease the country's abortion laws, among Europe's strictest, and bring them closer to much of the rest of the continent's laws and actual practice in Switzerland.

About 72 percent of voters approved a measure permitting abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, provided the woman requests the procedure in writing and agrees to counseling and medical advice. After 12 weeks, a woman may obtain an abortion only if she can show a physician that her physical health is endangered or that she faces "profound distress."