Rival factional leaders hope to get together in the next two months to discuss forming Somalia's first central government for six years.

The agreement, signed on Monday, provides for the formation of a presidential council, a provisional government and a constituent assembly.

Somalia has been without a central government since the overthrow of late dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 Somali factions have signed many peace accords since 1991 but none has brought order to their country, one of the poorest in the world, while more than 30,000 have died in the fighting. This agreement does however include practical measures to reunify the country for the first time.

Egyptians hail talks as historic

The agreement is the fruit of almost six weeks of intensive -- but low-profile -- negotiations in Cairo.

The talks involved all the main Somali parties, including the two big-name warlords - Hussein Mohammed Aidid and Ali Mahdi Mohammed.

Reports say the strongest faction leader, Hussein Aidid, made a major concession by renouncing his claim to the interim presidency and settling for the post of prime minister.

Ali Mahdi Mohammed will have an equal number of seats at a national reconciliation conference, to be convened in the Somali town of Baidoa in February.

Under the agreement, power will be wielded by a 13-member presidential council, backed by an interim government and a constituent assembly.

Somalia still has no government and lives under the rule of armed factions

The BBC Cairo correspondent says the agreement will be enhanced if the leaders are able to take such practical steps as reopening Mogadishu's main port and airport and eliminating the dividing line between rival areas.

He says it is also hoped that with Egyptian diplomatic muscle behind it, the new accord may encourage the Arab states to come up with reconstruction funds to help cement the reconciliation process.

Many difficulties lie ahead

Two of the factional leaders who took part in the talks have already rejected the agreement and walked out. This is not thought likely to be a real problem unless they manage to win the full support of their clan.

Ethiopia, which has staged cross-border incursions into Somalia, has also been negative towards the Cairo talks, but the Somali factions are planning to send a delegation to Addis Ababa to persuade the Ethiopians to support the unity accord.

The accord was also signed by representatives of the self-proclaimed state of Somaliland in the north. The independent Somali Republic was created in 1960 when British Somaliland was united with Italian Somalia.

Somaliland seceded again after 1991 but has gained no international recognition. Its president, Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, said this month he was firmly opposed to reunification.

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