Hopes rise for an end to Russian free-for-all: Progress in search for a new constitution

GATHERING in the Kremlin after a 10-day recess, Russia's Constitutional Assembly has applauded a compromise draft that trims some of the powers President Boris Yeltsin had demanded, which critics condemned as tantamount to dictatorship.

The revised text, presented to a full meeting on Saturday of the 700 delegates, raises hopes of a breakthrough that would allow Russia to establish a coherent democratic system and end the raucous free-for-all that has stymied decision-making for a year.

'As a result of intensive work, we have a single version of the constitution,' Mr Yeltsin told the assembly of representatives from Russian's nearly 90 regions, as well as businessmen, trade unionists and other groups.

Most speakers, including the right- wing nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, expressed cautious support. 'I have come to the conclusion that we do need a compromise and we cannot expect something ideal,' he said. Another boost for Mr Yeltsin was the attendance of Tatarstan, a semi- autonomous republic that had threatened to boycott the assembly, and several MPs under orders to stay away.

Sensing possible victory, Mr Yeltsin's allies yesterday stepped up pressure on Ruslan Khasbulatov, who chairs the Congress of People's Deputies and the Supreme Soviet, and has been on the defensive since a referendum in April. Fifty liberal legislators issued a statement of no confidence in Mr Khasbulatov, comparing his stewardship of parliament to the tactics of Lenin and Stalin. The Congress and Supreme Soviet - hangovers from the Soviet era - will be scrapped under the new constitution and replaced by a bicameral legislature.

Mr Yeltsin's camp also fought back against corruption allegations and demanded an investigation into a dacha under construction for the mutinous Vice-President, Alexander Rutskoi.

Amid the mudslinging, though, there are signs of real progress towards a constitutional settlement. The new text combines two earlier drafts - a 'presidential' draft which Mr Yeltsin initially insisted must be the sole basis for discussion and a second, 'parliamentary' text. It leans heavily towards Mr Yeltsin's draft but incorporates changes to counter charges from Mr Khasbulatov and others that Mr Yeltsin is trying to make himself a modern-day tsar.

Among these is an extension of the right to intitate money bills, a privilege intitially reserved for the president and government. The revised text also sets limits on the president's powers to issue decrees.