Piñera: Unity prevails in vote for new constitution

Chileans have massively voted in favour of drafting a new constitution for their nation in Sunday's plebiscite as President Sebastian Piñera called the result a triumph for democracy.

With nearly all of the vote counted, about 78% of Chilean voted yes.

In a speech to the country just after polls closed the country's leader, who opposed the proposal, said that "this plebiscite is not the end."

"It is the beginning of a path, which together we must travel to agree on a new constitution for Chile," he said.

His conservative government agreed with the centre-left opposition to allow the plebiscite a month after the outbreak of vast street protests that erupted a year ago in frustration over inequality in pensions, education and health care in what has long been one of South America's most developed nations.