Venezuela's voters have handed President Hugo Chavez his first-ever election defeat.
Planned changes to the constitution that would have greatly expanded Mr Chavez' powers and turned the oil-rich country into a socialist state were rejected
Mr Chavez has stressed that he had lost by only a 'minimal' margin and that he was encouraged by the support he did get.
The National Electoral Council said 'no' votes against the reforms had outweighed 'yes' votes by a narrow 51% to 49%.
Opposition members and their supporters immediately celebrated their victory, setting off fireworks in Caracas and filling the streets in celebration.
It was the first time since Mr Chavez first came to power in 1999 that he has lost at the polls. In all his past elections, the charismatic left-wing firebrand triumphed with comfortable leads.
