Brazilian voters on Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a measure to ban gun sales in the country, which registers one of the highest firearms deaths in the world.

With 74 percent of the ballots counted, officials said about 65 percent voted no and 35 percent yes in the referendum, which asked for a simple yes or no to the question: "Should the trade in firearms and ammunition be banned in Brazil?"

The referendum began on Sunday morning and the full nationwide results are expected at midnight local time (0400 GMT). Some 122 million Brazilians -- about 59 million men and 62 million women --are eligible to vote.

Earlier in the day, Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva repeated his support for the arms ban after casting his vote in Sao Bernardo do Campo, an industrial suburb of Sao Paulo.

"I don't think ordinary people with guns are going to be safe. That is why I am voting yes," Lula said.

Whatever the outcome of the referendum, Lula said he would respect the will of the people.

If the prohibition is approved, only Brazil's president, armed forces, state and federal police, harbour, prison and mayoral guards, security companies and licensed sports shooting ranges will be allowed to buy new weapons and ammunition. Those who already have guns legally will be required to keep them at home.

Before that, Brazil had had only one referendum. In 1963, voters were asked to choose between a parliamentary or presidential government.

Firearms killed 36,091 people in Brazil in 2004, the highest in the world, according to government figures. In the United States, which has a population of 297 million compared with Brazil's 185 million, the 2004 toll was about 30,200, the US government statistics showed.

Source: Xinhua