Bolivia's largest state votes on sweeping autonomy measure

Bolivia's largest state voted amid scattered violence Sunday on a measure seeking greater political and economic autonomy from the government of leftist President Evo Morales, who called the vote unconstitutional.

As polls closed Sunday, exit surveys showed the autonomy referendum drawing as much as 85 per cent support, though they were conducted by local news media sympathetic to the cause.

No margin of error was available.

Minor clashes across Santa Cruz state injured at least 25 people during the politically charged vote, which sought to separate the state's freewheeling capitalism and mixed-blood heritage from Morales' vision of a communal state ruled by indigenous Andean values.

Relatives of a 70-year-old man said he was killed when police fired tear gas to break up one scuffle. The death could not be confirmed by authorities.

Santa Cruz Gov. Ruben Costas downplayed the violence Sunday.

"This is a peaceful revolution," he said. "A new Bolivia is reborn from our decision."

Santa Cruz leaders want autonomy to keep a bigger slice of the state's key natural gas revenues and to shelter vast soy plantations and cattle ranches from Morales' plan to redistribute land to the poor.

Morales, the country's first indigenous president, argues that he needs a strong central government to spread Santa Cruz's wealth to the rest of Bolivia, South America's poorest country.

Three more eastern lowland states - Beni, Pando and Tarija - hold similar autonomy votes in June.

With two other states considering similar referendums, Morales entire political project is threatened.

Across the country in El Alto, near the highland capital of La Paz, pro-Morales demonstrators set fire to the offices of local television station owned by the La Paz state governor, who backs autonomy.

The statutes up for approval Sunday create local powers common in many countries, including a state legislature and police force.

Morales, in an interview with The Associated Press, called the measure illegal, unconstitutional and dictatorial.

He particularly objects to ambitious clauses that bear the distinct ring of nationhood: control of the state's land distribution and the right to sign international treaties, among others.

The vote went ahead despite an order to postpone it by Bolivia's top electoral court, and few international observers were present.

A celebratory mood prevailed Sunday in most of the state capital, which is also called Santa Cruz.

The state's green-and-white flag fluttered from cars and shop windows, while pro-autonomy graffiti and anti-Morales slogans blanketed walls.

Residents in the poor Santa Cruz neighbourhood of Plan 3000 - a bastion of Morales support populated by Indian immigrants from the poorer western highlands - burned ballot boxes Sunday morning.

Santa Cruz leaders insist they have no intention of seceding.

Both sides have dismissed concerns by some international observers that the vote would drive a bitterly divided Bolivia into violence.

Many here expect the vote to precipitate a new round of talks between the president and the opposition over how to proceed.