Berlin  - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier Friday welcomed a power-sharing agreement between the main parties in Zimbabwe.

"I hope this paves the way to a peaceful future," Steinmeier said.

The issue now was to tackle the southern African country's problems, he said, adding that Zimbabwe urgently needed a fresh political and economic start.

Steinmeier said Germany would assess the new government on the basis of its achievements.

"I expect that a framework will soon be created in which democratic freedoms are respected and economic development becomes possible," he said.

On Thursday, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai struck a deal on forming a government of national unity. (dpa)