The World - News from June 1, 1989

Chile’s President Augusto Pinochet said his lame-duck military government and the opposition have agreed on democratic changes in the nation’s constitution. The accord came after two months of unprecedented negotiations and paved the way for a national referendum, probably in August, to approve the amendments. Patricio Aylwin, leader of a 17-party opposition coalition, said the reforms “open the road for an orderly transition to a fully democratic regime.” Pinochet, who was defeated in a plebiscite last October, would say only that the reforms include changes that will make it easier for the new Congress to approve further constitutional alterations.