Ecuador assembly head: New constitution to be ratified in referendum

QUITO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The "yes" camp will win in the referendum on the new constitution, said Fernando Cordero, new president of the Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly, Sunday.

Cordero told local TV channel Ecuavisa that the opponents are "scared" and began to dress in black.

He added the "yes" camp led the "no" side 43 percent to 23 percent according to a poll by the Santiago Perez poll company.

"Although the new constitution is not finished, and the electoral campaign is not started, the 'no' camp is going terribly bad," said Cordero.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa also said the "yes" camp will win in the referendum but denied he was involved in the campaign.

According to the president, the assembly should present the new constitution on July 26.

If approved in the referendum, the new constitution will allow President Rafael Correa to run for office again and boost state control over the national economy, particularly in the mining and oil industries.