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LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's parliament approved a new constitution on Thursday that will allow President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to extend his three-decade long rule over one of Africa's top oil producers without a direct ballot.

The constitution was approved by 186 out of a total 220 votes in parliament, in which the ruling party holds an overwhelming majority over a weak and divided opposition. The main opposition UNITA party boycotted the vote.

"This is a historic moment," said Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, president of Angola's parliament. "Parliament has just adopted the new constitution of the Republic of Angola."

The constitution needs to be approved by the country's Constitutional Court and the president before coming into effect.

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS

The new charter will keep the president as head of government and the armed forces. It replaces the prime minister with a vice president, ensuring the president will be more involved in day-to-day affairs of state.

The president will be chosen as the leader of the party which wins the biggest share of the vote for parliament. Under the previous constitution the president and parliament were elected via two separate elections.

Analysts say this constitution grants even more power to Africa's second longest serving ruler.