Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, left, and opposition leader Raila Odinga shake hands after signing a power-sharing agreement Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya.

Nairobi, Kenya ? Kenya’s president and the opposition leader signed a power-sharing deal Thursday to bring the country back from the depths of violence and ethnic hatred that followed the disputed presidential election two months ago.

After weeks of frustrating negotiations, President Mwai Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga gave terse smiles for the cameras and shook hands as onlookers applauded enthusiastically.

Under the agreement, the opposition leader will become prime minister and have the power to “coordinate and supervise” the government – more authority than Kibaki wanted to yield.

Odinga referred to Kibaki as “my countryman, President Mwai Kibaki,” an important sign of acceptance from a man who has said Kibaki’s re-election in the Dec. 27 vote was a sham.

“For the last two months, Kenyans have known nothing but sadness,” Odinga said.

Kibaki added: “This process has reminded us that as a nation there are more issues that unite than that divide us.”

But in a reminder of the previous weeks’ chaos, police fired tear gas to disperse dozens of people who were gathered outside Kibaki’s office to witness the signing.

Both Kibaki and Odinga claim to have won the country’s presidential election, which observers say was marred by rigging on both sides.

The dispute set off street violence that killed more than 1,000 people and eviscerated the East African country’s economy. Postelection violence has largely subsided in recent weeks, but the country remains on edge.

Mediator Kofi Annan said earlier Thursday that “compromise was necessary for the survival of this country.”

As prime minister, Odinga will have the power to “coordinate and supervise” government affairs, according to the deal. That is more authority than the government had wanted to give, but it still leaves open whether the prime minister will have executive authority that cannot be overruled by the president.

It was unclear when Odinga would take up the position. Kibaki said he is reconvening parliament next Thursday to begin work on the constitutional changes necessary to make the deal into law.

In western Kenya, scene of some of the worst postelection violence, many people said it will take years to recover.