Aug. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Bolivian voters deepened a political divide between President Evo Morales and pro-autonomy regional governors, handing victories to both sides in a recall referendum yesterday.

Morales won support from 61 percent of the electorate with 53 percent of polling stations reporting, the national electoral court reported. Governors of the four regions chafing at central government rule -- the natural gas-producing centers Tarija and Santa Cruz, and sparsely populated Beni and Pando -- also got approval from more than half their states' voters to stay in office.

``This hasn't resolved anything,'' said Riordan Roett, director of Western Hemisphere studies at the Johns Hopkins University's School for Advanced International Studies. ``What is getting set up here is a very serious confrontation.''

Morales, 48, approved the referendum in May as a way to help build momentum for his stalled effort to pass a new constitution by making possible a recall of the governors who have lined up against him. The draft document, which still needs to be passed in a separate referendum, enshrines state control over natural resources, limits landholdings and allows Morales to run for re-election.

Natural Gas

In a televised address to the nation today, Morales emphasized his electoral gains in parts of the country where he was previously rejected.

``We won in six departments with more than 50 percent,'' Morales said. ``In the last election, we got about 16 percent support in Pando -- now we got almost 54 percent. Imagine that.''

Bolivia, the poorest country in South America, has the continent's second-biggest reserves of gas after Venezuela. Almost all of the reserves are in the southern and eastern states of Santa Cruz and Tarija.

Santa Cruz Governor Ruben Costas, who won about 72 percent of the vote, said afterwards that his government may create its own security force and create a trust fund to help other regional governments, the La Paz-based newspaper La Razon said.

The dispute has racial as well as economic overtones. The opposition, based in the eastern lowlands, draws more support from a wealthier, European-descended population than Morales, a westerner of indigenous Aymara descent.

The U.S. State Department called on both sides to seek a peaceful resolution of their disputes.

``We urge all parties to seize this opportunity to begin a frank dialogue to resolve outstanding issues and define a way forward that unites all Bolivians,'' spokesman Robert Wood said in an e-mailed statement.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Morales's closest ally, said the referendum results were a victory for Latin America, and a blow to U.S. influence in the region.

``We congratulate the Bolivian people and their president Evo Morales,'' Chavez said in comments broadcast on Venezuelan radio. ``The victory this Sunday is a victory for Latin America, a victory against imperialism.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Bill Faries in Buenos Aires at wfaries@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 11, 2008 21:19 EDT