"Venezuelan leader wins key reform" from BBC News reports that President Hugo Chavez has made it possible for him to essentially become dictator of Venezuela as the referendum on ending term limits has passed. Previously Chavez would have been limited to two six year terms.
With 94% of the vote counted, 54% had voted to end term limits, a National Electoral Council official said.
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 that would concentrate too much power in the presidency.
More than 16 million Venezuelans were eligible to take part in the vote, which observers said was free and fair.
Venezuela Opposition Rallies Against Referendum:
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