Jose Luis Exeni, president of Bolivian National Electoral Court (CNE), declares the official start of the referendum on the new constitution in La Paz, Bolivia, Jan. 25, 2009. A referendum called by Bolivian President Evo Morales on ratification of his constitutional reform kicked off on Jan. 25. [Xinhua/Bao Feifei]

Voting went smoothly in Bolivia's constitutional referendum on Sunday and was conducted in a calm and peaceful manner, said Raul Lago, chief of the mission of observers from the Organization of American States (OAS).

Preliminary results published by Bolivia's leading TV stations on Sunday evening showed that about 60 percent of voters voted for the new constitution.

No irregularities or complaints of violence had been reported, Lago said.

A voter casts the ballot of the referendum on the new constitution in a rural voting station in the town of Chipamaya, about 50 kilometers from the city of La Paz, Bolivia, Jan. 25, 2009. [Xinhua/Patricio Crooker]

There were about 3.9 million eligible voters in Sunday's voting on a new constitution which would give more power to the country's indigenous majority, promote agricultural land reforms and allow President Evo Morales to seek re-election.

The OAS sent 68 observers to the urban, suburban and rural areas of 9 provinces of Bolivia, being the largest delegation assigned to the country to monitor the referendum for the State Political Constitution proposed by the Socialist Movement (MAS) leaded by Morales.

According to the OAS observers, 94 percent of the voting booths that had been monitored had all the necessary facilities for the ballot, while 96 percent had suitable space to vote.

Final results of the referendum are expected to be released in a few days.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2009)