AFP - Polls opened Sunday in Bolivia's general election that is likely to deliver Evo Morales another five-year term in office and consolidate the anti-American president's hold on power.

Balloting began at 8:00 am (1200 GMT), as scheduled, and was expected to continue for eight hours.

More than 55,000 troops and police were on duty throughout the country to provide security.

Alcohol sales and the carrying of firearms were suspended nationwide on Friday ahead of the vote.

Morales, who wrapped up his re-election campaign Saturday, was widely expected to win against conservative rival Manfred Reyes Villa, whom he has accused of corruption.

Opinion polls give Morales, an Aymara Indian who enjoys overwhelming support from Bolivia's indigenous majority, more than 50 percent of ballots.

Swept into office in 2005, Morales is the first indigenous Bolivian elected president in the country, South America's poorest despite significant natural gas reserves.

His re-election to a second term was made possible under a 2009 constitutional amendment that modified the one-term cap for presidents.