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| Morales 're-elected' in Bolivia | Morales 're-elected' in Bolivia |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Bolivian President Evo Morales has been re-elected for a second term after a securing a convincing victory in Sunday's polls, exit polls suggest. | Bolivian President Evo Morales has been re-elected for a second term after a securing a convincing victory in Sunday's polls, exit polls suggest. |
| They suggest Bolivia's first indigenous leader polled at least 61% of the vote, defeating his conservative rivals. | They suggest Bolivia's first indigenous leader polled at least 61% of the vote, defeating his conservative rivals. |
| Mr Morales had promised to expand state control over the economy and redistribute profits from the gas industry if re-elected. | Mr Morales had promised to expand state control over the economy and redistribute profits from the gas industry if re-elected. |
| A referendum earlier backed changes to allow presidents to seek a second term. | A referendum earlier backed changes to allow presidents to seek a second term. |
| 'Totalitarian' ambitions | 'Totalitarian' ambitions |
| Mr Morales, 50, won between 61% and 63% of the vote, avoiding a run-off, the exit polls suggest. | Mr Morales, 50, won between 61% and 63% of the vote, avoiding a run-off, the exit polls suggest. |
| [Evo Morales] is changing things. He's helping the poor and building highways and schools Veronica Canizaya, voter | [Evo Morales] is changing things. He's helping the poor and building highways and schools Veronica Canizaya, voter |
| They indicate that his main rival Manfred Reyes Villa, a former governor, secured about 23%. | They indicate that his main rival Manfred Reyes Villa, a former governor, secured about 23%. |
| The BBC's Andres Schipani in La Paz says the exit polls also suggest the president is set to take control of the upper house of Congress from the opposition. | |
| Official results are expected in the coming days. | Official results are expected in the coming days. |
| Foreign observers have praised the election for its transparency and fairness. | Foreign observers have praised the election for its transparency and fairness. |
| Mr Morales's support base is chiefly among poor indigenous people who account for some 65% of the population - in contrast to his challengers. | Mr Morales's support base is chiefly among poor indigenous people who account for some 65% of the population - in contrast to his challengers. |
| "He's changing things. He's helping the poor and building highways and schools," Veronica Canizaya, a 49-year-old housewife, told Reuters news agency before casting her vote at a public school on the shores of Lake Titicaca. | "He's changing things. He's helping the poor and building highways and schools," Veronica Canizaya, a 49-year-old housewife, told Reuters news agency before casting her vote at a public school on the shores of Lake Titicaca. |
| Analysts say a victory for Mr Morales will solidify his dominance in Bolivian politics and weaken the split conservative opposition tied to the business elite. | |
| His other challenger was Samuel Doria Medina, a wealthy businessman. | His other challenger was Samuel Doria Medina, a wealthy businessman. |
| Both challengers accused Mr Morales of having "totalitarian" ambitions for the country and of being responsible for the rise in cocaine production, says our correspondent, Andres Schipani. | |
| Mr Morales told crowds at his final campaign rally: "There are two roads: continue with change or return to the past." | Mr Morales told crowds at his final campaign rally: "There are two roads: continue with change or return to the past." |
| Are you in Bolivia? What would an Evo Morales victory mean for the country? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Bolivia? What would an Evo Morales victory mean for the country? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |