By Duncan Miriri and Giles Elgood
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki andopposition leader Raila Odinga signed an agreement on Thursdayafter talks on power-sharing to end a post-election crisis.
In a televised ceremony, the two political rivals inked andeal hammered out under the mediation of former U.N. chief KofiAnnan, who had earlier said the two sides had reached agreementon the terms of a coalition government.
Annan said after the signing: "We have a deal."
A key part of the deal included the creation of the post ofprime minister, as demand by the opposition, he said.
Thursday's talks brought Odinga and Kibaki to the sametable for the first time in a month, after discussions betweennegotiators for the two men hit a deadlock earlier in the week.
The two men have come under intense pressure to compromiseover Kibaki's disputed re-election in a December 27 vote, whichtriggered ethnic violence that killed 1,000 people anddisplaced 300,000 more.
Kenya's trade unions and employers published an open letterin a newspaper on Thursday urging a swift settlement, whileNairobi-based diplomatic missions from Europe, Japan and Canadaissued a statement calling for compromise.
The opposition had threatened to hold mass street protestson Thursday, but called them off after meeting Annan, a formerU.N. Secretary-General, on Wednesday.
Kibaki has agreed to create a prime minister post, asdemanded by the opposition, but it was unclear what powers apremier would have and how many cabinet jobs Odinga's sidewould get.
The crisis that exploded after Kibaki was sworn in onDecember 30, amid Odinga's claims the election was rigged,seriously hurt Kenya's reputation as a stable, prosperousnation in a turbulent corner of Africa.
(Additional reporting by Wangui Kanina and Bryson Hull;Writing by Giles Elgood)
(For in depth coverage on Reuters Africa Web site:http://africa.reuters.com/elections/kenya/ )