New Delhi, March 18 -- Lawmakers in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday rejected legislation that would have made Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives.

Members of the Edinburgh-based legislature voted 69 to 57 against a bill that would have let people in Scotland with six months or less to live seek help to end their life. There was one abstention.

It came after an emotional debate that lasted around three hours and saw lawmakers tear up and applaud as they took turns to express their views on the issue.

They had been given a free vote on the assisted dying bill, which meant they could decide according to their consciences, rather than along party lines.

Scotland is part of the...