NAIROBI,(insidesomalia.org)- The United Nations top envoy for Somalia on Friday welcomed Monday's signing of a peace agreement between the country's transitional government leaders in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In a statement, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN special representative for Somalia, said the agreement was a good step forward which will strengthen the interim government's partnership with Somalis.

"I would like to congratulate the leaders on their agreement." stated Ould-Abdallah.

"I also congratulate them on their continuing support for the Djibouti Agreement," the UN envoy said in the statement.

Under this agreement, President Abdullahi Yusuf, Speaker of Parliament Sheikh Aden Madobe and Prime Minister Hussein resolved to promote reconciliation, the rule of law and good governance in Somalia.

They also fully committed themselves to implement the Djibouti Agreement, which has been rejected by Islamist hardliners.

The president and the prime minister fell out with each other after the latter sacked Mohamed Omar Habeeb, the mayor of Mogadishu and governor of Bandar province, who is a close ally of the president.