These firm orders locked up around 1.2 million tons, enough to let Valdi-serri schedule production efficiently and pick new customers very carefully.

FORBES: Man of steel

Valdi-serri's net worth has been halved since the end of 1994.

FORBES: Man of steel

Mr Ouyahia, special envoy of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, said the proposal had been drafted with US envoy Anthony Lake and European Union representative Rino Serri.

BBC: Calls for restraint after Horn fighting

Senator Rino Serri, who played a key role in the mediation resulting in the peace pact, said that Italy and the rest of Europe immediately wanted to renew co-operation and relations with Ethiopia, now that the war was over.

BBC: Horn POW releases delayed