South African President Thabo Mbeki has welcomed the signing of the agreement between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, which lays the basis for the formation of a coalition Government in Kenya. “The signing of the agreement is a shining example of how Africans themselves can find peaceful resolution to their political challenges,” President Mbeki said. He added: ”Accordingly, as Africans, we welcome this agreement and express our confidence that it will lay a firm foundation for an advance to a peaceful and democratic Kenya. “In this regard, we express the hope that the people of Kenya, on whose behalf the agreement was signed, will support the agreement and take advantage of the space created by this act to rebuild their country to take its rightful place among nations of the world as an equal partner.” He expressed his gratitude to former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan; Chairman of the AU, President Jikaya Kikwete of Tanzania; former President Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel for their efforts in assisting the people of Kenya to find an amicable and peaceful resolution of the post-election crisis that has left 1,000 dead. Panapress
