The World - News from Feb. 18, 1988

Thailand and Laos agreed to a cease-fire and disengagement of troops along a disputed border area where hundreds of soldiers have died in months of clashes. The agreement was reached after two days of talks in Bangkok between military teams of the two sides. A joint statement said that the cease-fire will start Friday morning and that a joint group will monitor the truce and 1.6-mile pullback of troops from the frontier. The statement called for political negotiations to begin within 15 days on ownership of the 27-square-mile area, 250 miles north of Bangkok, which is claimed by both countries.