Officials have revealed that voters in violence-wracked Kyrgyzstan Sunday approved a new constitution limiting presidential power and creating a parliamentary republic.

Radio Free Europe has reported that about two-thirds of voters turned out with no apparent violence two weeks after ethnic clashes killed at least 278 people in southern Kyrgyzstan and forced another estimated 400,000 people, mostly ethnic Uzbeks, from their homes in the region.

It has also been reported that Interim leader Roza Otunbayeva got the nod from voters to serve as president until the end of next year. She is ineligible to run in the October 2011 presidential election.

Otunbayeva said at a news conference, "This is a historic day for our republic. We believe the referendum was valid and a new constitution has been adopted despite fierce opposition from adversaries of this constitution. More than half the country's citizens voted in the referendum, meaning our people have put a decisive end to the era of authoritarian rule."

According to the election officials, turnout was highest in the capital, Bishkek, and northern provinces, and much lower in the south.

About 7,500 police officers and 7,500 were providing security at polls, government officials have said.

It has further been reported that Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks began fighting June 11 in Osh in clashes that lasted several days and spread to the neighboring Jalalabad region. Officials put the death toll at 275 but Kyrgyz leaders say it could be 10 times higher. More than 2,000 people were injured in the violence and dozens were missing. (With Inputs from Agencies)