MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia, which is holding its independence referendum and presidential elections Sunday, said it prevented an attempt to blow up a local mobile phone operator.

"During the presidential elections and the referendum, the republican law-enforcement bodies prevented an attempt to blow up the tower of a mobile phone operator, Ostelecom," said the Web site of the South Ossetian information and press committee with reference to the republican interior ministry.

South Ossetians are voting in a referendum to reaffirm their independence from Georgia and seek international recognition. Concurrently, there are electing their new regional leader.

Four candidates, including incumbent President Eduard Kokoity, are running for presidency in the republic.

As of 14:00 p.m. Moscow time (11:00 a.m. GMT), 64% of registered voters had come to the polls, crossing the electoral threshold of 50%, the republic's information and press committee said.

South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia following a bloody conflict in 1991-1992 that killed hundreds of people. The incumbent Georgian leadership is determined to bring the breakaway region back under its control.