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Bolivians 'back new constitution' Bolivians 'back new constitution'
(about 11 hours later)
Bolivian President Evo Morales has claimed victory in a referendum on a new constitution aimed at improving conditions for the indigenous majority. Bolivian President Evo Morales has claimed victory in a referendum on a new constitution that aims to empower the country's indigenous majority.
Addressing supporters outside the presidential palace, he said the result marked the birth of a new Bolivia.Addressing supporters outside the presidential palace, he said the result marked the birth of a new Bolivia.
Exit polls for some TV stations put the yes vote at about 60%. Exit polls put the "yes" vote at about 60% overall, but at least four of Bolivia's nine regions voted no.
The new constitution gives autonomy to indigenous peoples and boosts state control of the economy, but is opposed by many of the traditional elite. The constitution will allow Mr Morales to stand for re-election and tighten state control over the economy.
Many mixed-race people in the fertile eastern lowlands rejected the charter and four of Bolivia's nine provinces had a majority no vote, according to the exit polls.
Conservative leaders in one district accused President Morales of planning to impose a totalitarian regime, but he was undeterred.
Despite the yes vote, there is likely to be continued opposition to the constitution as it goes through parliament, says the BBC's Candace Piette in La Paz.
'New era'
"Brothers and sisters, the colonial state ends here," President Morales, an Aymara Indian, told crowds in front of the presidential palace in La Paz after results emerged."Brothers and sisters, the colonial state ends here," President Morales, an Aymara Indian, told crowds in front of the presidential palace in La Paz after results emerged.
"Now Bolivia is being re-founded!" he said. "Now Bolivia is being re-founded," he said.
"Here we begin to reach true equality for all Bolivians." Evo Morales is Bolivia's first indigenous president"Here we begin to reach true equality for all Bolivians." Evo Morales is Bolivia's first indigenous president
The Bolivian leader has followed his closest allies, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Ecuador's Rafael Correa, in rewriting their countries' constitutions to extend their rule, tackle inequalities and exert greater control over natural resources, observers say. Support for Mr Morales was highest in the western highlands where indigenous people form the majority.
Support for Mr Morales was highest in the western highlands where Indians are a majority. "A new era is starting now in which indigenous people will be the citizens of this country. I think this is the most important part of this constitution," said Elisa Canqui, who represents one of the Indian communities in La Paz.
"Now is starting a new era in which indigenous people will be the citizens of this country. I think this is the most important part of this constitution," said Elisa Canqui, who represents one of the Indian communities in La Paz. There can be no doubting the historic symbolism of the new constitution as only some 50 years ago Indians of Aymara and Quechua descent were not allowed to walk in the central square of La Paz.
Now the new charter will give sweeping rights to Bolivia's 36 indigenous groups in the areas of government, the judiciary and land holdings.
OpponentsOpponents
Many Bolivians of European or mixed-race descent strongly oppose the constitution, but the head of an international monitoring team, Raul Lagos, said voting had been largely peaceful. But the polarisation that has dogged the country since Mr Morales took office in 2006 is unlikely to diminish, says BBC Latin America analyst James Painter.
Opponents concentrated in Bolivia's eastern provinces, which hold rich gas deposits, argue that the new constitution would create two classes of citizenship - putting indigenous people ahead of others. Many Bolivians of European or mixed-race descent in the fertile eastern lowlands, which hold rich gas deposits and are home to extensive farms, rejected the charter.
KEY REFORMS Re-election: Allows Mr Morales to stand for re-election in Dec 2009Indigenous rights: Stresses importance of ethnicity in Bolivia's make-up. A whole chapter devoted to indigenous rightsAutonomy: Power decentralised, four levels of autonomy - departmental, regional, municipal and indigenous Resources: Sets out state control over key economic sectors, state sovereignty over vast natural gas fieldsJudiciary: Indigenous systems of justice same status as official existing system. Judges will be elected, and no longer appointed by Congress. Land: New limit on ownership 5,000 hectares (12,355). But measure not retroactive. Reform struggle ahead
The referendum was badly defeated in the opposition strongholds of Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni and Pando, early results suggested.
"The 'no' vote has put the brakes on the fools who wanted to destroy our country," said opposition leader and Santa Cruz Governor Ruben Costas.
The original draft of the constitution was more radical but Mr Morales made concessions after violent protests against his rule, including a promise that he would not try to win a third term in 2014.The original draft of the constitution was more radical but Mr Morales made concessions after violent protests against his rule, including a promise that he would not try to win a third term in 2014.
Elections are set for December, when the president, vice-president and Congress will be chosen.
Under pressure from wealthy ranchers, who feared their farms would be broken up and handed over to the poor, Mr Morales also revised the charter so that limits on land holdings will only apply to future land sales.Under pressure from wealthy ranchers, who feared their farms would be broken up and handed over to the poor, Mr Morales also revised the charter so that limits on land holdings will only apply to future land sales.
The new constitution enshrines state control over key economic sectors, and grants greater autonomy not only for the nine departments but also for indigenous communities.
But these clauses regarding layers of autonomy could lead to a raft of competing claims, correspondents say.
The exact implementation of the new charter is also far from certain.
Several articles have to be approved in Congress where Mr Morales does not have a majority in the Senate.
Another problem facing the Morales administration is that in the last three years it has benefited from the commodity boom but is now facing a major fall in the price of its main exports, minerals and gas.
Final results are expected in about 10 days.Final results are expected in about 10 days.
The referendum will be followed by elections for president, vice-president and Congress in December.