New Delhi, Nov. 25 -- Slovenians on Sunday rejected in a referendum a law that allowed terminally ill patients to end their lives, according to preliminary results released by the election authorities.

The near-complete count showed that around 53% voted against the law while around 46% supported it. The no-votes also represented more than 20% of 1.7 million eligible voters in Slovenia, which is requested by the election rules.

Turnout was nearly 41%, the State Electoral Commission said.

"Compassion has won," declared Ales Primc, a conservative activist who led the campaign against assisted dying. "Slovenia has rejected the government's health, pension and social reform based on death by poisoning."

Parliament in the small European Un...