President Thabo Mbeki has welcomed the Liberian cease-fire agreement penned by the Liberian government and rebel groups in Accra, Ghana, yesterday.

Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia and the government pledged to cease hostilities yesterday in what President Mbeki said was ‘a positive step’ towards restoring peace and stability in the country.

“The agreement paves the way for an all-inclusive political dialogue amongst Liberians which will hopefully lay the foundation for a sustainable solution to the intractable conflict that has gripped the country for years," Mbeki said. The trio signed the truce, the first formal cease-fire in the three-year war between Liberia's government and the two rebel movements.

The rebels are believed to be controlling about 60 percent of the West African country, which has been engulfed by conflict for more than ten years.

Clashes have also been reported in recent weeks on the outskirts of the capital Monrovia. – BuaNews.