Hugo Chavez tastes defeat in referendum

Voters rejected the contentious amendments, proposed to greatly expand his powers and turn the oil-rich country into a socialist state, by a narrow margin of 51 to 49 per cent.

But in typical fashion the president sought to turn defeat into his advantage by claiming it demonstrated the democratic nature of his rule.

The Election Commission announced the results at 1.20am on Monday morning, sending the jubilant political opposition onto the streets of Caracas in celebration, singing, letting fireworks into the air and honking car horns.

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