More than 90 percent of people voting in a controversial referendum in the Republic of Congo approved a bid by President Denis Sassou Nguesso to extend his 31-year stay in office, according to official results announced Tuesday.

A total of 92.96 percent of voters approved the constitutional change, which has now been adopted, Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou said.

Official results showed turnout was high at 72.44 percent, though on Monday opposition leader Pascal Tsaty Mabiala had said only 10 percent of Congolese voted.