ORURO, Bolivia (AP)  A national assembly approved a new constitution Sunday that would empower Bolivia's indigenous majority and let President Evo Morales run for re-election indefinitely. The country's main opposition party boycotted Sunday's assembly vote on the new charter, which must now be approved by voters in a national referendum. No date has been set for the referendum, although it is not expected to be held until September 2008. The document would give Bolivia's indigenous peoples — some 62% of the population — greater autonomy and control over their traditional lands, redressing what Morales calls centuries of discrimination by a corrupt political class dominated by a European-descended elite. The constitution's approval, 16 months after the popularly elected assembly first convened, was celebrated with fireworks and music by supporters in this pro-Morales stronghold high in the Andes. But opposition is stiff in the country's low-lying and richer eastern states. Bolivia has been wracked by violent protests against the new constitution in recent weeks, with three people killed in rioting and various hunger strikes launched. And a number of articles in the new charter that did not obtain a two-thirds majority even in the rump assembly will have to be approved directly by Bolivian voters. Among them is an article that would limit the size of individual land holdings, a measure bitterly opposed by the country's agribusinesses. Moments after the document's approval Sunday, Morales called it a source of "great happiness for the indigenous and popular movement" that "consecrates a peaceful transition." The new constitution would permit the indefinite re-election of Bolivia's president — something Venezuelan voters denied their socialist president, Hugo Chavez, in a referendum last week. But Morales on Sunday reminded his countryman of his plan, proposed on Wednesday, to place himself at voters' mercy in a recall election in which he could be unseated if "no" votes were to exceed the number by which he won office in December 2005, when he garnered 54% of the ballots. Under the proposal, voters would also decide whether to recall Bolivia's nine state governors, six of whom are bitter opponents of Morales. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Enlarge By Juan Karita, AP President Morales has said that if he loses a recall referendum he is proposing in the face of bitter opposition that new presidential elections will be called immediately. Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.