Bolivian President Evo Morales has rejected an autonomy vote by the resource-rich Santa Cruz region, saying the unofficial referendum was illegal.
But he also called for dialogue with opposition governors, as three other states prepare for autonomy votes.
Partial results from Santa Cruz suggest more than 80% of voters backed plans to give their region more powers.
The poll pitted the region's mixed-race elite against the president's indigenous supporters.
An official count of 22% of the ballots showed 82% had voted to give the region more control over its resources, the AFP news agency reported.
'Historic act'
The vote triggered noisy celebrations in Santa Cruz.
The region's Governor, Ruben Costas, called the result "the most important act of our republican history".
"You all with your vote have consolidated the beginning of the most important structural reform of our country," he said.
But in a national address after voting had finished, Mr Morales stressed the high levels of abstention - and called for opposition state governors to engage in dialogue with the government.
The president said he would ignore the results.
"This illegal and unconstitutional vote didn't have the success hoped for by certain families," he said, referring to landowners from Santa Cruz who helped organise the poll.
Many in Santa Cruz are critical of Bolivia's left-wing president.
He wants the country's wealthier eastern regions to contribute more to the poorer west, where the bulk of his indigenous supporters come from.
Morales dismisses autonomy vote
Bolivian President Evo Morales has rejected an autonomy vote by the resource-rich Santa Cruz region, saying the unofficial referendum was illegal.
But he also called for dialogue with opposition governors, as three other states prepare for autonomy votes.
Partial results from Santa Cruz suggest more than 80% of voters backed plans to give their region more powers.
The poll pitted the region's mixed-race elite against the president's indigenous supporters.
An official count of 22% of the ballots showed 82% had voted to give the region more control over its resources, the AFP news agency reported.
'Historic act'
The vote triggered noisy celebrations in Santa Cruz.
The region's Governor, Ruben Costas, called the result "the most important act of our republican history".
"You all with your vote have consolidated the beginning of the most important structural reform of our country," he said.
But in a national address after voting had finished, Mr Morales stressed the high levels of abstention - and called for opposition state governors to engage in dialogue with the government.
The president said he would ignore the results.
"This illegal and unconstitutional vote didn't have the success hoped for by certain families," he said, referring to landowners from Santa Cruz who helped organise the poll.
Many in Santa Cruz are critical of Bolivia's left-wing president.
He wants the country's wealthier eastern regions to contribute more to the poorer west, where the bulk of his indigenous supporters come from.
