REGIONAL - Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki has urged MPs to pass into law a power-sharing agreement aimed at ending weeks of post-election violence.

Kibaki told the state opening of parliament in Nairobi that the deal would lay "the foundations for peace and stability in our country".

Under the deal, opposition leader Raila Odinga would become prime minister.

Hundreds of people have died in violence following polls in December, which Odinga said were rigged.

Addressing parliament, Kibaki said the accord was a first step towards achieving a prosperous future for all Kenyans.

"I urge honourable members to ensure that all the necessary bills... are dealt with promptly so that Kenya can restore and even exceed its former glory," he said. Ahead of the opening, President Kibaki said Kenyans were "keen to see an end to partisan bickering".

"They want pragmatic solutions, not ideological posturing. They want their leaders to place the country above party and individual interests," he said. The session was opened with two minutes of silence - one for two MPs killed in the violence, the other for some 1,500 others who died. Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga arrive at parliament

The two leaders were seen talking amicably over refreshments

Speaker Kenneth Marende, a member of Mr Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement, urged parliament to "stand tall and try to make Kenyans proud".

He also blamed the country’s electoral commission for the country’s crisis.

"The genesis of the problem that afflicted the nation would appear to have had its epicentre at the electoral commission headquarters," he said.

The BBC’s Adam Mynott in Nairobi said that from the atmosphere in the parliament, it did seem that the two parties were united, despite their previous animosity.

The outwards signs suggest that Kenya is moving steadily down the path to a unified government, but there will be obstacles along the way, he says.

MPs from both sides have agreed to support four key bills:

* The national accord and reconciliation bill, which sets out the details of the power-sharing deal

* The constitutional amendment bill, which makes the necessary changes to the country’s constitution

* A bill establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the recent violence and longer-term injustices

* An ethnic relations bill aimed at promoting tribal tolerance in Kenya

Kenyan MPs are due to begin debating the national accord and reconciliation bill next week. Our correspondent says the deal has helped to dispel anger, but much work remains to be done on how power-sharing will work in practice.