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| Morales calls for Bolivian unity | Morales calls for Bolivian unity |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Bolivian President Evo Morales has called for unity as tension rises ahead of Sunday's vote on whether he and state governors should stay in office. | Bolivian President Evo Morales has called for unity as tension rises ahead of Sunday's vote on whether he and state governors should stay in office. |
| Speaking on Bolivia's independence day, Mr Morales criticised what he called privileged groups who talked of separation and opposed change. | Speaking on Bolivia's independence day, Mr Morales criticised what he called privileged groups who talked of separation and opposed change. |
| He is embroiled in a political battle with regional governors over his attempts to reform the constitution. | He is embroiled in a political battle with regional governors over his attempts to reform the constitution. |
| Protests have been increasing in the run-up to the referendum. | Protests have been increasing in the run-up to the referendum. |
| On Tuesday, the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and President Cristina Fernandez of Argentina were forced to call off planned visits after two people were killed and several injured in protests. | On Tuesday, the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and President Cristina Fernandez of Argentina were forced to call off planned visits after two people were killed and several injured in protests. |
| The head of the Organisation of American States, Jose Miguel Insulza, has said he is "deeply concerned" about the political violence and has appealed to all sides to allow Sunday's recall referendum to go ahead peacefully. | The head of the Organisation of American States, Jose Miguel Insulza, has said he is "deeply concerned" about the political violence and has appealed to all sides to allow Sunday's recall referendum to go ahead peacefully. |
| Reforms | Reforms |
| Amid security concerns, Mr Morales was forced to hold Wednesday's independence day celebrations in his power base of La Paz rather than the opposition-run city of Sucre. | Amid security concerns, Mr Morales was forced to hold Wednesday's independence day celebrations in his power base of La Paz rather than the opposition-run city of Sucre. |
| Addressing supporters gathered in the centre of La Paz, the president criticised the "small and privileged groups" that opposed the process of change. | Addressing supporters gathered in the centre of La Paz, the president criticised the "small and privileged groups" that opposed the process of change. |
| The terms of the referendum have been disputed | The terms of the referendum have been disputed |
| "These groups do not want equality among fellow Bolivians. They do not respect the identity and diversity of our people. And our biggest concern is that some of these small groups talk about independence and separatism using autonomy as an excuse," Mr Morales said. | "These groups do not want equality among fellow Bolivians. They do not respect the identity and diversity of our people. And our biggest concern is that some of these small groups talk about independence and separatism using autonomy as an excuse," Mr Morales said. |
| President Morales is hoping the recall referendum on 10 August, which he proposed, will strengthen his hand, correspondents say. | President Morales is hoping the recall referendum on 10 August, which he proposed, will strengthen his hand, correspondents say. |
| If he wins, as some opinion polls suggest, he is likely to claim public support to push through reforms in the rest of his term in office which runs until January 2011. | If he wins, as some opinion polls suggest, he is likely to claim public support to push through reforms in the rest of his term in office which runs until January 2011. |
| These would include constitutional changes to enshrine reforms such as land redistribution to Bolivia's indigenous majority and the sharing of wealth between the richer eastern regions and poorer west. | These would include constitutional changes to enshrine reforms such as land redistribution to Bolivia's indigenous majority and the sharing of wealth between the richer eastern regions and poorer west. |
| The proposals also include allowing the president to stand for re-election for another five-year term. | The proposals also include allowing the president to stand for re-election for another five-year term. |
| Divisions | Divisions |
| Critics say the constitution would cede too much control to the government in La Paz. | Critics say the constitution would cede too much control to the government in La Paz. |
| Governors in the east, where Bolivia's natural gas fields lie, have staged their own referendums to demand more regional autonomy. | Governors in the east, where Bolivia's natural gas fields lie, have staged their own referendums to demand more regional autonomy. |
| It is far from clear that the recall referendum will help reduce the deep divisions in Bolivia, says the BBC's Latin America analyst James Painter. | It is far from clear that the recall referendum will help reduce the deep divisions in Bolivia, says the BBC's Latin America analyst James Painter. |
| The terms of the vote have been challenged and are still in doubt. | The terms of the vote have been challenged and are still in doubt. |
| Under the rules decided by the National Electoral Court, President Morales and Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera will lose their mandate if more than 53.7% of voters support their removal. | |
| That was their share of the vote in the 2005 presidential election. | That was their share of the vote in the 2005 presidential election. |
| The regional governors need more than 50% of the votes to remain in office. |