Annan, UN Mission welcome pact forming new government in DR of Congo

Welcoming the announcement that Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has signed a decree setting up a new power-sharing government, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on all the parties - both loyalists and opposition - to now seize the opportunity to work together to end nearly five years of war.

In a statement issued today in New York, the Secretary-General welcomed President Kabila's naming of the Ministers of the DRC's new Government of National Unity.

"The Secretary-General looks forward to the inauguration of this transitional government as soon as possible," the statement said, adding that "he calls on the Government of National Unity to seize this opportunity to work together to bring about peace and stability in the country."

Meanwhile in Kinshasa, the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) also welcomed the formation of the new Transitional Government.

According to the mission, President Kabila last night named the authority, which will comprise 36 ministers and 25 deputy ministers. The agreement divides the 36 ministries among the government, rebel movements and pro-government militias, political parties and representatives of civil society, in line with the comprehensive power-sharing accord signed by the parties last December in Pretoria.

The deal comes on the heels of an agreement signed this past weekend between the DRC government and the country's two main opposition factions - Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC) and Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) - on a division of military and security arrangements.

In a press release, MONUC expressed the hope that the ceasefire would also be implemented throughout the country, in particular the war-ravaged eastern and the northeastern part and the State would be extended to the whole of the DRC.