QUITO -- Ecuadorians voted against allowing the return of foreign military bases to the country in a constitutional referendum held on Sunday.

The proposal, put forward by President Daniel Noboa, aimed to equip the government with additional measures to combat the escalating violence attributed to organized crime gangs linked to drug trafficking.

With more than 95 percent of ballots counted and a "marked trend" established, the "No" vote prevailed on the question seeking to eliminate the constitutional prohibition on establishing foreign military bases in Ecuador, according to the National Electoral Council.