Nairobi — Kenya shone on the international radar following the signing of the power sharing deal that could hold the country back from the grind towards the precipice.

Kenyans gave each other the 'New Year' greeting stolen from their lips in the first week of January by political tension and post-election violence. The country woke up to a new day, beaming with confidence there is finally light at the end of the tunnel, as the world embraced the nation with soothing, congratulatory and encouraging messages.

The world acknowledged Kenya's momentous breakthrough to peace, with messages of solidarity and support coming in mainly from the US, Europe, Africa and the global family of nations - the United Nations.

President Kibaki and Orange Democratic Movement leader, Mr Raila Odinga, stole the international limelight even as world leaders showered them with praise.

Kibaki and Raila reaffirmed they would stay on course, committed to the process they started at the dignified frontal steps of Harambee House, Kenya's original seat of presidential stewardship.

The handshake they exchanged, the messages of commitment, as well as the appending of the signature to the deal, has helped calm tension and unease, which had thrown the country into crisis for the last two months.

Kibaki, who spoke as he met Living Water International Chairman Mr Malcom Morris, at his Harambee House office, said Kenya had begun national reconciliation and healing.

Kibaki, in a statement issued by Presidential Press Service, reaffirmed his support for the agreement signed yesterday and expressed confidence that it would be implemented in the interest of all Kenyans.

Raila, who spoke live on CNN, expressed full commitment to the deal they signed with President Kibaki on Thursday.

"Once this Act is implemented the Kenyan nation will have a perfect opportunity to reinvent itself after several false starts," said Raila.

The US, European Union and the United States voiced its satisfaction with the power deal as they acknowledged it bore hope for Kenya.

US Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice who last week visited Kenya to meet the two leaders, said the country can count on American support as it moves forward to implement the agreement and the reform agenda.

"The US provided intensive support for those efforts and would continue to do so as the two sides finish work on the remaining agenda items dealing with intended reforms," said Rice, in her congratulatory message to Kenyans after the deal.

She urged Kenyans to seize the historic opportunity to bolster unity, democratic governance and prosperity. "The agreement is an important step to sustain Kenya on its democratic path and demonstrates that even the most profound crises can be resolved if there is political will," Rice said.

But her deputy, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Dr Jendayi Frazer told CNN that there could be pitfalls in the process of implementation, but "the United States and the rest of the international community will keep them moving on the right track."

She acknowledged that hardliners on both sides who may be unhappy with the agreement may try to sabotage it, but said that it would be "difficult" to undermine a legal and constitutional document.

"Clearly in the process of implementation, we can expect there will be some types of disagreement," she said.

Adding, "These are two parties, and in fact two men, who have disagreed fundamentally."

The United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon welcomed the "Agreement on the Principles of Partnership of the Coalition Government" reached on Thursday.

In a statement from Geneva, Mr Moon said, "for the purpose of acting together for Kenya, the agreement marks a breakthrough toward resolving the crisis and gives hope to the people of Kenya for a return to democratic stability."

He commended President Kibaki and Raila for the spirit of compromise they demonstrated in reaching this accord.

He also congratulated his predecessor, Dr Kofi Annan and the Panel of Eminent African Personalities for their pivotal contribution in the mediation.

"Every effort should be made to involve the people of Kenya at all levels in the process," he said.

The European Union, Germany and UK applauded the peace deal to create a power-sharing government as Britain said it would sponsor a donor summit for Kenya.

Britain and the European Union applauded the deal, which they had pushed to be inked as soon as possible to end hostilities and violence.

To help the new government to its feet, British Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown said he would sponsor a donor summit to provide aid to Kenya.

"We'd be prepared in London to host a donors conference to make sure Kenya has the best chance to build upon this power-sharing agreement, to restore tourism (and) get the economy moving again," he told reporters in London, after speaking to Annan on telephone.

EU Commissioner for Development Louis Michel, on behalf of the EU Presidency, said, "EU commends the work of the Panel of Eminent Personalities led by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan whose determination was crucial in the difficult task of reaching this agreement."

The EU, he sadded, "has strongly supported the political dialogue under the auspices of Annan and will continue to do so throughout the process. The agreement reached today signifies the commitment of both parties to find a legitimate political way out of the post-election situation."

He said: "The EU Presidency believes that this is an important step towards peace and reconciliation in Kenya, and hopes that both sides will build on this momentum in addressing the remaining issues."

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana also praised Annan's efforts and said he hoped peace would return to Kenya.

„This is a particularly important agreement that will enable Kenya to return to stability and prosperity and will also have a positive impact throughout the region," Solana said, in a statement.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also welcomed Thursday's deal. „Kenya has grasped the opportunity to resolve its political crisis peacefully and to return to stability," he said.

France said it warmly welcomed the power- sharing agreement by the two leaders. On behalf of his Government, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs M. Bernard Kouchner, praised "the wisdom of both sides, "who have been able to achieve the political compromises required to guarantee a sustainable solution to the Kenyan crisis."

He said: "France, in total co-ordination with the European Union, will continue supporting the implementation of this agreement. It will maintain its efforts to assist the Kenyan people to get back to the path towards prosperity and peace."

The Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon called it a momentous occasion for Kenya. "Coming after a very difficult period in the country's history, this signals a new beginning. It is an agreement that the Commonwealth warmly welcomes."

McKinnon said the Commonwealth is ready to assist the Kenyan authorities to implement the reform agenda in the agreement.

Mr McKinnon urged Kenya's leaders to remain committed to the process of national healing and reconciliation, to return the country to full political stability and economic growth.

South African President Thabo Mbeki welcomed the signing of the agreement terming it the basis for the formation of a coalition Government in Kenya.

"The signing of the agreement is a shining example of how Africans themselves can find peaceful resolution to their political challenges," he said, in a statement issued by Department of Foreign Affairs.

"In this regard, we express the hope that the people of Kenya, on whose behalf the agreement was signed, will support the agreement and take advantage of the space created by this act to rebuild their country to take its rightful place among nations of the world as an equal partner," said President Mbeki.

German Federal Foreign Minister Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed great relief at the news. "I am pleased that agreement has been reached in Kenya. It means that Kenya has seized the chance to resolve its domestic crisis peacefully and to return to a situation of stability."

He added: "Now it is a matter of rapidly implementing today's agreement on the basic structures for a partnership between the parties. I hope that the spirit of this agreement will help bring reconciliation among Kenya's ethnic groups and smooth the way for coming to grips with recent events."

The secretary general of the East African Community Amba Juma Mapachu said the union was extremely elated at the development. "The East African Community is extremely elated to learn of the peace settlement to end the post-election impasse that had gripped the country over the past two months," said Mr Mapachu.

He added: "This is an achievement in which all the people of Kenya must share and rejoice."

Australia pledged financial assistance to Kenya to the tune of Sh112 million. The funds will be used to assist vulnerable women and children through Unicef, and replenish emergency relief supplies through the Red Cross.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Stephen Smith said his country welcomed the power-sharing deal.

In Nairobi, German ambassador Mr Walter Lindner said, "It is Kenya's time to say, Never again!" He added: "I feel relieved. It was a good deal for Kenya and for Kenyans. If the agreement is implemented in the form and spirit in which it was signed, it is a good day for Kenya."