Rwanda votes in constitutional referendum on presidential terms

Rwandans Friday went to the polls in a constitutional referendum on presidential terms, which may allow President Paul Kagame to seek re-election after his second year seven-year term expires in 2017.

Voting started at 7 a.m. local time with long queues at most of the polling stations countrywide.

Voting was due to end at 3 p.m. local time.

About 6.4 million voters were expected to participate in the election to decide on a Yes or No vote to amend the revised constitution.

President Kagame cast his vote in late morning at APE-Rugunga polling station in Kigali.

In his brief interaction with journalists, Kagame said what was happening was people's choice and declined to state whether he would be standing again after revising the constitution.

Asked whether he will be standing, or whether he was about to announce, he said, "We will see when time comes,"

A total of 6.4 million voters were expected to cast their votes at 2,800 polling stations countrywide, with preliminary results expected later Friday evening.

On what he would offer those asking him to seek re-election for the next seven years term, he said, "Let's first look at the record, maybe you can build from that."

However, the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has been rallying Rwandans to cast a "No" Vote during the referendum.

The change of the Constitution requires absolute majority, or more than 50 percent of the "Yes" vote. Endit