Puerto Rico votes to become 51st state of America

Referendum shows 'overwhelming support' to join US, but critics accuse ballot of being flawed

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Puerto Rico has voted to ask the US Congress to grant it full statehood in a non-binding referendum that had 97.1 per cent of voters in favour of the plan.

Governor Ricardo Rossello claimed victory, even though opposition leaders boycotted the ballot and turnout was less than 23 per cent.

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