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 Burma constitution approved
    May 26 2008 at 12:51PM Get IOL on your
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Yangon - Myanmar declared victory on Monday for a military-backed constitution after a second round of voting in regions hit by the cyclone, claiming nearly 93 percent endorsed the charter, state media said.

Balloting was held on Saturday in regions where 2,4 million people need emergency food, shelter and medicine, after Cyclone Nargis pounded the country more than three weeks ago, leaving 133 000 dead or missing.

Some 4,5 million voters were eligible to cast ballots in the cyclone zone, and state media said that 93 percent turned out for the poll, with 92.93 percent endorsing the charter.

A first round of voting had been held on May 10 in regions spared by the storm. Nationwide, state media said the constitution was approved by 92.48 percent, with a 98 percent turnout.
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Myanmar ignored international calls to delay the referendum, even though the United Nations says most cyclone victims have yet to receive any aid.

The voting was held on a weekend of intense diplomatic and political activity in this reclusive and impoverished nation.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spent three days here to press the regime to accept a full-scale cyclone relief effort - although he left the country on Saturday to avoid being in Myanmar during the balloting.

The poll was held on the eve of an international donor conference that raised tens of millions of dollars for cyclone aid, and where participants carefully avoided mentioning politics in discussions of the relief effort.

Myanmar announced the results as the regime was believed to be preparing to extend the house arrest of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been locked away for most of the last 18 years.

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