Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye and the leader of the strife-torn central African country's largest Hutu rebel group signed an agreement here early today to implement a ceasefire deal hammered out late last year.

The comprehensive agreement, signed by Ndayizeye and Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) leader Pierre Nkurunziza in the South African capital, included a compromise deal on political and military issues with both leaders declaring an immediate halt to hostilities.

As delegates finished putting pen to paper, Nkurunziza said: "I am formally ordering our combatants that the FDD will no longer fight against the people of Burundi. I would like the same order to be issued by the transitional government".

"With all my heart I issue an order for the immediate cessation of hostilities.

I order the defence minister, who is here, to convey this order to the army," Ndayizeye replied.

The two leaders agreed that the FDD would get four ministerial positions, including the portfolio of "minister of state", whom the president must consult "on all key matters," and the position of vice-president and deputy sectretary general in the country's national assembly.

The rebels will be given 15 seats within the body - half of their original demand.

Regarding military matters, FDD officers will now make up 40%of Burundi's general staff and officer corps with the allocation of command posts on the basis of ethnic balance.

Delegates also agreed to the establishment of a new police force with 35% of the general staff being drawn from FDD ranks.

Burundi's militia will be disbanded and the gendarmerie (paramilitary police force) will be treated as part of the Burundi Armed Forces (FAB).

The rebels will also get 35 percent of the vacant posts within the country's secret service.

The talks, which kicked off in Pretoria on Sunday, were the latest in a series of negotiations aimed at restoring peace in Burundi after ten years of civil war.

They were attended by South African President Thabo Mbeki and his deputy, Jacob Zuma, who is the chief mediator in the Burundi peace process.

Nkurunziza and then-president Pierre Buyoya signed a ceasefire deal in Arusha, Tanzania last December, but the FDD and Burundi's second-largest rebel group, the National Liberation Forces (FNL), have since been blamed for a recent outbreak of violence in the country.

Civil war broke out in 1993 between rebels from the Hutu majority and the Tutsi-dominated army, killing some 300 000 people, mainly civilians.

The discussions continued at leadership level yesterday and took on a more somber tone than Monday's proceedings, marked by Nkurunziza's announcement that security issues had been settled.

After tough negotiations, a compromise was reached on the composition of the army, the police and the secret service in Burundi's transition to democratic elections, Ndayizeye said.

"Our satisfaction is total," he added.

"We closed the security part of the talks and agreed on issues relating to the army, the police and the security services." Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the discussions, Mbeki praised the latest development: "This is an important development for Burundi and it is also an important part of the jigsaw puzzle solving the problems in the very heart of Africa". – Sapa-AFP.