The UN special envoy for Somalia says the accord reached in Djibouti would end more than 17 years of civil strife in the war-torn country.

Ahmedou Ould Abdallah noted that all Somali parties have inked the agreement except two individuals who are regarded as terrorists by the UN Security Council and the Americans."

He added, "Now the ball is in the court of the international community: The Europeans, the United States and the Arab League. They must help the Somalis implement a ceasefire."

Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and his deputy, Abdi Salam, represented the government at the ceremony, AFP reported.

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and former Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden represented the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), an opposition umbrella group dominated by Islamists and based in the Eritrean capital, Asmara.

While some Islamist leaders and influential clan leaders have joined the discussions, other hard-line Islamists, insisting the mediation was biased, have maintained their call for an Ethiopian withdrawal before any talks.

This round of talks in Djibouti opened on May 31 following a similar first round that ended on May 16. In the first round, the opposing sides did not engage in direct talks, but the move was seen as a breakthrough in efforts to end a conflict.

According to international rights groups and aid agencies, at least 6,000 civilians have died in fighting there over the past year alone. The country has been plagued by civil war since 1991.

MP/RA