NNA - Kazakhs overwhelmingly voted for constitutional changes in a referendum that marks the end of founding leader Nursultan Nazarbayev's three-decade grip on Central Asia's richest country, authorities announced Monday.

The amendments will finally bury  "super-presidential" rule, according to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev -- a claim that has been greeted with scepticism from local political observers.

The incoming constitution removes special privileges for 81-year-old Nazarbayev and prevents Tokayev and future leaders from having relatives in government posts.

The central electoral commission said 77 percent of voters had backed the move and claimed a turnout of 68 percent. --AFP

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