Venezuela ? Venezuela’s congress, dominated by allies of President Hugo Chavez, gave initial approval Tuesday to constitutional reforms that could permit Venezuela’s leftist leader to govern for decades to come.

After about six hours of debate, National Assembly President Cilia Flores said Chavez’s proposed changes to the constitution, including the lifting of presidential term limits, received “majority approval.”

Flores did not say how many of the 167 lawmakers voted in favor of the reforms, saying only that they were approved with overwhelming support. Final approval is expected within two or three months, and the changes would have to be approved by voters in a referendum.