President Thwarts Political Rivals

One day after claiming victory in a disputed referendum, this Central European nation’s hard-line president moved swiftly to strip authority from his rivals, convening a new parliament and trying to dissolve the existing one. President Alexander G. Lukashenko, who now has vast control over all branches of government after voters approved broadening his powers, persuaded his new parliament and the Constitutional Court to withdraw impeachment proceedings pending against him. Sunday’s referendum, which opponents and international monitors say was unfair, changed the constitution to extend Lukashenko’s term until 2001.