Bolivia's Morales sets date for constitution vote

[Judi Lynn]

Bolivia's Morales sets date for constitution vote
Fri 29 Aug 2008, 1:22 GMT

By Eduardo Garcia

LA PAZ, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales on Thursday set the date for a national referendum to seek approval for a new constitution strongly opposed by his rightist rivals.

Leftist Morales made implementing a new constitution a pillar of his reform agenda when he took office in early 2006, saying it would empower the poor, indigenous majority that forms his support base.

He vowed to forge ahead with the constitution after winning a resounding victory in a recall vote earlier this month.

"We aim to refound Bolivia through a new constitution so that all Bolivians ... will have the same rights and the same duties," Morales said after signing a decree that sets the date for the referendum as Dec. 7.

He said the new constitution would stop future governments from "giving away" energy resources to international companies and prevent the construction of foreign military bases.

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