The constitution could be adjusted according to the needs, he said, but warned these changes had to be made cautiously so that the basic law remained intact.

The present constitution of Russia was adopted through a nation-wide referendum on December 12, 1993 after Yeltsin dissolved the supreme Soviet.

It was by virtue of the present constitution, four years ago, that Yeltsin ordered forces to enter Chechnya. Thousands of the federal troops and residents of the breakaway republic were killed in the 2-year war and theparliament could only watchhad no powers to do anything except passing bunches of non-binding resolutions.

Later Yeltsin conceded it was one of his `main blunders.' However, the apex court had upheld Yeltsin's use of army as a constitutional step.

Vajpayee, Primakov discuss agenda

Russian PM Yevgeny Primakov and Indian counterpart A B Vajpayee held telephonic talks to chalk out the agenda for the former's India visit during December 21-22. They discussed the `content' of the talks and the state of preparatory work on the Indo-Russian agreements to be signed.

India and Russia is likely to sign an extradition treaty, official sources said. Another treaty -- Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) -- will also to be signed during the visit, they said.