国际英语新闻:Kyrgyzstan holds referendum on constitutional change

BISHKEK, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz citizens voted in a referendum Sunday on constitutional change sponsored by this central Asian country's top leader, according to Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan.

Voters would approve or reject the entire package of 26 proposed amendments with a single "yes" or "no" vote.

The referendum will be declared valid if more than 30 percent out of 2.851 million citizens included in the electoral lists cast vote.

President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev expressed the hope that at least 30 percent of voters would cast their votes.

"I hope that people will support the referendum. Today's referendum is a step that leads us to democracy," the president told journalists after casting his vote.

The voting took place from 08:00 a.m. local time (0200GMT) to 20:00 p.m.throughout the country and abroad in the diplomatic missions of Kyrgyzstan.

After the initiative of the president-backed referendum, the Kyrgyz public opinion had divided into two parts and lots of discussions were held on whether it is necessary and legal.

A change of the constitution through the referendum, which would be the 11th time for the country to amend its supreme charter since its independence in 1991, would boost the Central Asian country's prime minister's power while weakening the president.

The current Constitution was adopted in a referendum in June 2010, which changed the form of government in Kyrgyzstan from presidential to parliamentary.