New Delhi, May 14 -- Scottish lawmakers voted on Tuesday in favour of a bill that would legalise assisted dying, the first step of a long process towards legislation.

The bill seeks to allow terminally ill people to request medical assistance to end their lives, with a final vote expected later this year.

After five hours of emotionally charged debate, 70 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) voted in favour of moving the bill forward, while 56 opposed it and one abstained.

"This is a landmark moment for Scotland," said the author of the bill, liberal democrat MSP Liam McArthur.

The bill "can offer that compassionate choice for the small number of terminally ill Scots who need it", he added.

Under the current draft, assisted dying...