CARACAS, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's National Assembly Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment that could allow unlimited re-elections of President Hugo Chavez and all other elected officials, local media reported.

    The amendments must still be approved by voters in a referendum within 30 days before going into effect.

    The vast majority of the lawmakers voted Wednesday in favor of lifting term limits for the president and all other elected officials. Six lawmakers voted against the proposal while five abstained, according to the report.

    The National Election Board is expected to announce a date Friday for the referendum. The date will likely be Feb. 15.

    This is Chavez's second attempt to seek unlimited re-elections. The constitution was amended one year after he was first elected in 1998 to allow him to run for a second term in 2006.

    In 2007, Chavez also proposed amendments to the constitution, asking to extend his six-year presidential term to seven years and lift presidential term limits, which was turned down in a referendum.