A referendum in Ecuador on the return of foreign military bases appears to be failing, with a partial count of more than a third of ballots showing 60 percent rejection of the proposal.

A separate measure to convene an assembly to rewrite the constitution also has 61 percent rejection, according to the partial count on Sunday, with 36 percent of votes counted.

Losses would be a blow to President Daniel Noboa, who had backed both measures, saying foreign cooperation, including shared or foreign bases within the country, is central to fighting organised crime in the country.

He has also said that the current constitution, drafted under former leftist President Rafael Correa, must be revised to reflect the country’s new reality.

Ecuador banned foreign military bases on its soil in 2008.

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