Measure to allow foreign military bases fails vote

A measure that would allow the return of foreign military bases to Ecuador looked set to fail in a Sunday referendum, as a count of close to 90% of ballots showed nearly two-thirds rejection of the proposal.

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A separate proposal to convene an assembly to rewrite the constitution had more than 61% rejection with nearly 88% of votes counted.

The losses on the measures are a blow to President Daniel Noboa, who had backed both, saying foreign cooperation, including shared or foreign bases within the country, is central to fighting organised crime and that the current constitution, drafted under former leftist president Rafael Correa, must be revised to reflect the country's new reality.

Once considered one of the safest countries in Latin America, Ecuador has become a key drug transit hub in recent years because of its location on the Pacific, triggering an unprecedented security crisis and battering its already-fragile economy.