Swiss voters have rejected a proposal which would have made businesses liable for human rights or environmental violations they cause around the world.

Even though voters backed the initiative by a narrow majority, it failed to win support in a majority of Swiss cantons as required.

The government and many business leaders had come out against the plan.

Another proposal to ban public financing of arms manufacturers was also rejected.

The liability initiative gained 50.7% of votes nationwide, but only it gained a majority in about a third of the country's cantons. It is the first time in more than half a century that a referendum measure has failed on regional grounds, despite obtaining a popular majority in the whole country.

(Lupni.com/BBC)