Venezuelans cast ballots on constitutional changes

CARACAS, Venezuela -- President Hugo Chavez would take on expanded powers and have a shot at being president for life under constitutional changes considered by Venezuelans Sunday in a vote that raised tensions in South America's top oil exporter.

An emboldened opposition and recent violent clashes involving protesters point to a potentially volatile dispute if the vote is close, as some pollsters predict.

"I'm very sure that everything is going to go very well," Chavez said after voting, holding his newborn grandson in his arms. "We're going to accept the results, whatever they are."

Lines snaked outside many polling stations, and Information Minister Willian Lara said across the country there was "a massive turnout." Voters were awakened in Caracas by fireworks exploding in the pre-dawn sky and reveille blaring from speakers mounted on cruising trucks.

Chavez has warned opponents he will not tolerate attempts to stir up violence, and threatened to cut off oil exports to the U.S. if Washington interferes. His country is a major supplier to the United States, which in turn is the No. 1 buyer of Venezuelan oil.

Chavez, who has become Latin America's most outspoken antagonist of Washington since he was first elected in 1998, calls the constitutional overhaul vital to making Venezuela a socialist state. He labels those who resist it pawns of President Bush.

Venezuelans across the political spectrum saw the referendum as a turning point. Some Chavez opponents described it as a protest vote -- and a point of no return.

"This is our last chance to change things," said Judith Padova, a 57-year-old housewife who lined up among about 300 voters in the Caracas neighborhood of Los Ruices.

While the Venezuelan government touts polls showing Chavez ahead, other surveys cited by the opposition indicate strong resistance -- which would be a change for a leader who easily won re-election last year with 63 percent of the vote.

Pollster Luis Vicente Leon said tracking polls by his firm Datanalisis in the past week show the vote is too close to predict. Which side wins will depend largely on turnout among Chavez's supporters and opponents, he said.

Opposition leader Manuel Rosales, who lost to Chavez in the 2006 presidential race, urged voters to turn out in large numbers.

"Venezuela is in the middle of a great crossroads," Rosales said before casting his ballot in western Zulia state, where he is governor. His supporters chanted, "freedom, freedom!"

Speaking to reporters Saturday, Chavez accused the U.S. government of plotting to discredit what he says will be a legitimate victory for him at the polls.

"They are preparing to disavow the results, so we hope the popular will is respected," Chavez said.

The socialist leader sought to capitalize on his personal popularity ahead of the vote. He is seen by many as a champion of the poor who has redistributed more oil wealth than any other leader in memory.

Opponents -- including Roman Catholic leaders, press freedom groups, human rights groups and prominent business leaders -- fear the reforms would grant Chavez unchecked power and threaten basic rights.

The changes would create new forms of communal property, extend presidential terms from six to seven years and let Chavez seek re-election. If Chavez were to lose, he would be barred from running for re-election in 2012.

The reforms would also grant Chavez control over the Central Bank, allow his government to detain citizens without charge during a state of emergency, and empower him to redraw the country's political map and handpick provincial and municipal leaders.