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Bolivian court halts planned referendum on new constitution

Bolivia's top electoral court on Friday suspended a planned nationwide referendum on a draft constitution Bolivian President Evo Morales said would give more power to the country's poor indigenous majority.

The charter, a key Morales project, has been the focus of months of political tension between the leftist leader and his conservative rivals.

"The National Electoral Court's decision is fair as long as the state electoral courts [also abide by it]," said Cesar Navarro, a legislator from Morales' Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. "But it's not fair if the decision only puts the brakes on the national referendum."

Regional leaders vowed to press on with those votes.

Last week, lawmakers from Morales' MAS party in Congress approved a May 4 referendum on the proposed charter with little participation by the opposition, many of whom were prevented from entering the building by Morales supporters.

The proposed constitution has led to protests from four provinces seeking more autonomy from the central government. The draft charter was approved last year in a constitutional assembly amid violent protests and an opposition boycott.

Jose Luis Exeni, the head of Bolivia's National Electoral Court, said the body ruled that the vote on the new constitution cannot be held.

"No technical, operative, legal or political conditions exist to allow it to go forward," he said.

Exeni said the referendum on the charter failed to meet a constitutional requirement it be held at least 90 days after congressional approval.

If approved, the new constitution would grant greater power to indigenous groups who form the backbone of Morales' support and have long been marginalized by Bolivia's European-descended elite.

But opposition leaders say the charter is illegal since it was approved in a constitutional assembly without their supporters' participation.
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