Bolivian region votes for autonomy

Bolivia's richest region of Santa Cruz voted overwhelmingly for autonomy yesterday in a referendum widely seen as a rejection of President Evo Morales' leftist reforms, exit polls showed.

The ballot was the first of four referendums on greater autonomy from central government being planned by eastern provinces, raising tensions between Mr Morales' supporters and the conservative opposition that is concentrated in the east.

According to pollster Focaliza, cited by local television, Santa Cruz residents voted 86 per cent for the autonomy proposal and 14 per cent against. The result had been widely expected because backers of Mr Morales, a former coca farmer and close ally of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, vowed to boycott the referendum.

No figures were published on the abstention rate, but a low turnout could weaken the referendum's legitimacy.

Voting was mainly calm, but officials said at least 18 people were hurt as supporters and opponents of Mr Morales fought with sticks and stones in Santa Cruz city. One man died after police fired tear gas.

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