Winning what he said was a referendum for the people, and not himself, President Hugo Chavez has his wish. Venezuelan voters voted to remove the terms limits that would keep him from running for re-election in 2012.

Burma's military government has rejected a U.N. proposal to allow independent observers at its constitutional referendum planned for May.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan Today, English)----On March 29 the Senate of the Oliy Majlis launched its 9th plenary session in Tashkent. The session was attended by the invited members of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of state bodies whose activities deal with the issues included in the agenda of the plenary session of the Senate. The session was led by I.Savirov, Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis.