UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday welcomed the signing of an agreement between the government of Mali and Tuareg rebels on the same day.

"The agreement provides for an immediate ceasefire, paves the way for the holding of presidential elections nationwide and commits the parties to discussing sustainable peace in Mali through an inclusive dialogue that will take place after the election," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesperson.

The Malian government and the separatist MNLA and HCA rebels on Tuesday afternoon signed a truce agreement in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.

Negotiations opened on June 8 to iron out differences between the rival sides ahead of the planned election in July to end the crisis since a military coup on March 22 last year.

In the statement, the UN chief said he is encouraged by the parties' commitment to national reconciliation and the resolution of differences through dialogue, and urged them to "begin implementation of the agreement at once."

Meanwhile, Ban is grateful to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its mediation efforts, with the support of the African Union and the UN, the statement said.

In addition, Ban reiterated that the UN stands ready to support the implementation of the agreement through the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and other members of the UN system, in cooperation with the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), the AU and ECOWAS.