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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Venezuela awaiting poll outcome | Venezuela awaiting poll outcome |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Polls have closed in Venezuela in a referendum on removing limits on how often politicians, including President Hugo Chavez, can run for office. | Polls have closed in Venezuela in a referendum on removing limits on how often politicians, including President Hugo Chavez, can run for office. |
| The outcome is expected to be close and Mr Chavez has said he will respect the result either way. | The outcome is expected to be close and Mr Chavez has said he will respect the result either way. |
| Mr Chavez has said he needs to stay in office beyond the end of his second term in 2012 so he can secure what he calls Venezuela's socialist revolution. | Mr Chavez has said he needs to stay in office beyond the end of his second term in 2012 so he can secure what he calls Venezuela's socialist revolution. |
| Critics say the that would concentrate too much power in the presidency. | Critics say the that would concentrate too much power in the presidency. |
| Polls officially closed at 1811 (2241 GMT), but people still in line at that time were allowed to cast their vote. | Polls officially closed at 1811 (2241 GMT), but people still in line at that time were allowed to cast their vote. |
| More than 16 million Venezuelans were eligible to vote. Results are expected later on Sunday. | More than 16 million Venezuelans were eligible to vote. Results are expected later on Sunday. |
| Tight security | Tight security |
| The BBC's Will Grant reports that Mr Chavez was confident as he voted in an area of the capital, Caracas, where he can rely on almost complete support. | |
| "My political destiny will be decided today," said the president, a former paratrooper, after casting his vote. | |
| "This is important for me as a human being and as a soldier in this fight," he said. | "This is important for me as a human being and as a soldier in this fight," he said. |
| "We'll recognize the result, whatever it is, once it is announced by the National Electoral Council." | "We'll recognize the result, whatever it is, once it is announced by the National Electoral Council." |
| My political destiny will be decided today Hugo ChavezVenezuelan president Crucial vote for ChavezVoters' viewsIn pictures: Venezuela referendum Our correspondent says there is also significant opposition to the constitutional change, and many in the "no" camp believe they have done enough to overturn the proposal. | |
| Security across the country has been tight, with thousands of troops on duty to ensure the voting passed off peacefully. | Security across the country has been tight, with thousands of troops on duty to ensure the voting passed off peacefully. |
| Dozens of election observers from international bodies such as the UN and the Organisation of American States were also on hand to verify that the referendum was free and fair. | Dozens of election observers from international bodies such as the UN and the Organisation of American States were also on hand to verify that the referendum was free and fair. |
| Under the present constitution, the president is limited to two six-year terms in office, which means that Hugo Chavez would have to leave the presidency in 2012. | Under the present constitution, the president is limited to two six-year terms in office, which means that Hugo Chavez would have to leave the presidency in 2012. |
| But he says he wants to remain in office until 2021, as long as he can keep winning elections. | But he says he wants to remain in office until 2021, as long as he can keep winning elections. |
| Venezuelans divided | Venezuelans divided |
| A proposal to end presidential term limits was one of a package of 69 constitutional changes narrowly rejected in a 2007 referendum. | A proposal to end presidential term limits was one of a package of 69 constitutional changes narrowly rejected in a 2007 referendum. |
| The issue of indefinite re-election has divided Venezuelans like almost no other, our correspondent says. | |
| For a second time in little over a year the question is being decided at the ballot box. | For a second time in little over a year the question is being decided at the ballot box. |
| The latest referendum, if passed, would remove the limit on the number of times local governors and state politicians, as well as the president, can stand for office. | The latest referendum, if passed, would remove the limit on the number of times local governors and state politicians, as well as the president, can stand for office. |
| Some analysts say this change could make the difference for Mr Chavez, as many local governors are said to back the measure this time around. | Some analysts say this change could make the difference for Mr Chavez, as many local governors are said to back the measure this time around. |
| But the opposition is adamant that the proposal has been rejected once and should not be back under discussion, our correspondent says. | But the opposition is adamant that the proposal has been rejected once and should not be back under discussion, our correspondent says. |