Belgium's parliament approved by just two votes Saturday a sweeping state reform that will lead the country into a new federal era, further separating Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia.

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The coalition government of Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene mustered 144 votes - only two more than the two-thirds majority of 142 required - to amend the first article of the Belgian constitution, the Belga news agency said.

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