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| Bolivians vote on Morales' fate | |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The people of Bolivia have started voting on whether they want President Evo Morales and eight regional governors to remain in office. | |
| The recall referendum was organised to consolidate the leaders in office amid growing divisions over the president's attempts to reform the constitution. | The recall referendum was organised to consolidate the leaders in office amid growing divisions over the president's attempts to reform the constitution. |
| Mr Morales has criticised what he calls privileged groups who talk of separation and oppose change. | Mr Morales has criticised what he calls privileged groups who talk of separation and oppose change. |
| Protests increased in the run-up to the referendum. | |
| Deep divisions | Deep divisions |
| The country has become increasingly divided between rich and poor, east and west over the president's plans to radically reorganise the way Bolivia is run. | The country has become increasingly divided between rich and poor, east and west over the president's plans to radically reorganise the way Bolivia is run. |
| He wants to give poor and indigenous communities and women a greater voice, he wants to redistribute land in what is South America's poorest country. | He wants to give poor and indigenous communities and women a greater voice, he wants to redistribute land in what is South America's poorest country. |
| But many in the gas and oil-rich east of the country oppose the president's proposals and have responded by calling for greater autonomy from central government. | But many in the gas and oil-rich east of the country oppose the president's proposals and have responded by calling for greater autonomy from central government. |
| The dispute sometimes breaks out in violence and last week Evo Morales had to cancel two planned trips when angry protesters blocked regional airports. | The dispute sometimes breaks out in violence and last week Evo Morales had to cancel two planned trips when angry protesters blocked regional airports. |
| Opinion polls suggest that President Morales will remain in office but that two or three of the regional governors may be under threat. | Opinion polls suggest that President Morales will remain in office but that two or three of the regional governors may be under threat. |
| However, analysts say the recall referendum, whatever the result, is unlikely to solve Bolivia's problems since its divisions are so deeply ingrained. | However, analysts say the recall referendum, whatever the result, is unlikely to solve Bolivia's problems since its divisions are so deeply ingrained. |