UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Tuesday the formation of a new power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

    In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban said he "joins others in applauding this development as a historic step on the road to a peaceful future for the people of Northern Ireland."

    Ministers of Northern Ireland's rival parties were sworn in to office Tuesday, marking the restoration of a power-sharing government involving politicians from the British province's Protestant and Roman Catholic communities.