Cruise, Holmes agree split, vow to 'respect beliefs'

US: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have reached a "private" settlement less than two weeks after she announced their bombshell divorce -- and vowed Monday to honor each other's beliefs over their daughter.

The Hollywood pair issued a joint statement pledging to act in the "best interests" of six-year-old Suri, and to take account of their "respective beliefs" in her upbringing -- an apparent reference to Scientology.

The announcement heads off what some had expected could be acrimonious haggling over the divorce, amid reports Holmes was concerned about the role of the Church of Scientology in their daughter's life.

"The case has been settled and the agreement has been signed. We are thrilled for Katie and her family and are excited to watch as she embarks on the next chapter of her life," her lawyer Jonathan Wolfe said.

No details of the settlement terms were given, but Holmes and Cruise's joint statement said: "We are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri's best interests.

"We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other's commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other's roles as parents," they added. AFP