| Early exit polls indicate more than 80 | | | | governors seeking looser ties to La Paz. |
| percent of voters in a referendum in | | | | |
| Bolivia's eastern state of Santa Cruz cast | | | | Opponents of the measure clashed with voters |
| ballots in favor of autonomy. | | | | at several polling stations on Sunday. |
| | | | Authorities say dozens of people were |
| Santa Cruz residents have already begun to | | | | injured. |
| celebrate Sunday's vote. It is not clear when | | | | |
| the final results will be in. | | | | Critics of the autonomy measure accused |
| | | | business leaders in the east of trying to |
| Supporters of the autonomy referendum are | | | | stop tax money from going to poor communities |
| seeking greater control over the region's | | | | in the west. Supporters said some of that |
| government and natural resources. They also | | | | money should benefit needy residents in the |
| want to protect large plantations and ranches | | | | east. |
| from Bolivian President Evo Morales' land | | | | |
| redistribution proposals. | | | | Three other areas in eastern Bolivia have |
| | | | scheduled autonomy votes in coming weeks, and |
| The president has called the autonomy | | | | two others also are considering votes. |
| initiative illegal and unconstitutional. | | | | |
| However, in a speech Sunday he said he is | | | | Some information for this report was provided |
| willing to discuss autonomy with state | | | | by AFP and AP. |