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Bolivians vote on Morales' fate Morales 'wins' tense Bolivia poll
(about 3 hours later)
Voting has ended in Bolivia, in a referendum to decide whether President Evo Morales and eight regional governors should remain in office. Bolivia's President Evo Morales has claimed victory in a referendum on whether he should continue in power.
The recall referendum was organised to consolidate the leaders in office amid growing divisions over the president's attempts to reform the constitution. Unofficial results gave Mr Morales a convincing win, and he promised to continue his reforms, including the nationalisation of key industries.
Early unofficial results indicate Mr Morales has won enough votes to remain in power, as have five governors. Four of six opposition governors, who have led violent protests against the president and demand more autonomy, also won the right to stay in office.
But whatever the outcome, Bolivia will remain divided, correspondents say. The outcome of the vote is likely to leave Bolivia a divided, analysts say.
"What the Bolivian people have expressed with their votes today is the consolidation of change," Mr Morales told thousands of cheering supporters in La Paz.
"We're here to move forward with the recovery of our natural resources, the consolidation of nationalisation, and the state takeover of companies," he told the crowd from the balcony of the presidential palace.
The president congratulated the opposition governors who were re-confirmed in their posts and urged them "to work together" with him.
Unofficial exit polls said Mr Morales had won more than 60% of the vote. Official results are expected in next few days.
In all, eight governors were subject to recall votes, and five of them were victorious, according to early projections.
Three governors, including two Morales supporters, are set to lose their jobs and fresh elections will then be held.
Deep divisionsDeep 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, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in La Paz. Bolivia has become increasingly divided between rich and poor, east and west, over the president's plans to radically reorganise the way the country is run, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in La Paz.
Mr Morales wants to give poor and indigenous communities and women a greater voice, and he wants to redistribute land in what is South America's poorest country, our correspondent adds.Mr Morales wants to give poor and indigenous communities and women a greater voice, and he wants to redistribute land in what is South America's poorest country, our correspondent adds.
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.
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.
The dispute sometimes breaks out in violence, and protests increased in the run-up to the referendum.The dispute sometimes breaks out in violence, and protests increased in the run-up to the referendum.
Last week, Evo Morales had to cancel two planned trips when angry protesters blocked regional airports.Last week, Evo Morales had to cancel two planned trips when angry protesters blocked regional airports.