Switzerland were voting today on a proposal to scrap its armed forces, held by many as vital protection for the small, long-neutral Alpine country in the heart of Europe.
The proposal - which has little chance of success - was put forward by the "Switzerland Without an Army" coalition under a Swiss law that allows anyone to force a referendum with the collection of 100,000 signatures from voters.
Exit poll results issued shortly after voting closed suggested 79 per cent of voters had rejected the proposal, Swiss radio reported.
The plan would add the phrase "Switzerland has no army" to the federal constitution, going on to say that the country's national security policy is built around reducing the injustices that lead to conflicts, both within the country and abroad.
Switzerland declared itself neutral in 1515 and the last battle against a foreign power was when Napoleon invaded in 1798.
Campaigners question the purpose of an army for a population of 7.2 million surrounded by countries of the European Union. "No military power is threatening us... Against whom are we supposed to defend ourselves? The European Union? Nato?"
They point out that the army costs Switzerland 9 billion Swiss francs (£3.8bn) per year out of a total government budget that in 2000 was 47 billion francs (£20bn).
In a separate referendum, voters were asked to agree to the creation, in place of the army, of a "voluntary civilian service for peace".
The proposal has attracted little support from lawmakers. Three of the four parties in the ruling coalition have come out against it, while the Social Democrats have given their members a free vote.
Only the Greens and the Communist Party - small parties outside the coalition - are supporting the proposal.
An earlier referendum on the issue, in 1989, was rejected by 64.4 per cent of the population, but the support of almost a third of Swiss electors had a strong effect on future policy in encouraging a trimming of the army.
Switzerland, a nation of 7 million people, currently has 350,000 soldiers, most of them reservists. Women can enlist in the army, but only in non-combatant roles.
Under the government's "Army XXI" plan, from 2004 the army will be reduced to 220,000 - 140,000 active and 80,000 reservists - with a higher proportion of professional soldiers.
AP