Burundi's main rebel group has agreed to a ceasefire to leave only one guerilla group fighting in the African country's decade-long civil war.
The conflict in the central African country with a population of six million has killed 200,000 people over ten years.
President Pierre Buyoya and Mr Pierre Nkurunziza, leader of the main faction of the Forces for the Defence of Democracy - the largest rebel group - signed the agreement at a regional summit in Arusha, Tanzania. The ceasefire is to take effect from December 30th.
"We will honour the agreement and we hope the transitional government will do the same. We would like to see peace in Burundi," Mr Nkurunziza said.
The only group that has not agreed to stop fighting is the largest faction of the National Liberation Forces, which is active around the capital, Bujumbura.
The war broke out when Hutu rebels took up arms against the Tutsi-dominated army in October 1993 after Tutsi paratroopers assassinated the central African country's Hutu leader.
Despite being in the minority, Tutsis have effectively ruled the country for all but a few months since independence in 1962.
AP