MINSK, Belarus -- The Belarussian parliament replaced the country's Soviet-era constitution Tuesday with a new version putting a president at the head of the Slav nation of 10 million.


"This is a major victory for parliament, which has demonstrated its wisdom and capability for compromise and consensus," parliament chairman and head of state Mechislav Grib told deputies.


The constitution, under discussion for two years, for the first time calls for an elected president to head the country. An election is expected late June.


Parliament will be made up of 260 members, reduced from 360, to be elected under a system yet to be decided.


The constitution seeks to shed the legacy of decades of Soviet rule, declaring that Belarus is "a free ... democratic state," and guaranteeing individuals the right to own land.


It also states the goal of becoming a nonnuclear, neutral country. Belarus, located on Russia's western border, is one of four former Soviet republics to inherit nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union.


One of the most conservative of the former Soviet republics, Belarus has been led since the collapse of Communist rule by its parliamentary chairman.


Grib took over as head of state in January after parliament ousted liberal leader Stanislav Shushkevich.


(Reuters, AP)