Truce Proposed In Laotian Battle

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29739, 5 February 1962, Page 13

Truce Proposed In Laotian Battle

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LUANG PRABANG (Laos), February 3.

Both Leftist and Rightist forces in Laos today called for a cease-fire in a pocket battle that has flared off and on at Nam Tha, 100 miles north-west of Vientiane.

The Defence Minister in the Right-wing Government. (General Phoumi Nosaven) told a press conference at Luang Prabang that he had asked the international control commission to call for a cease-fire at Nam Tha from 6 am. local time tomorrow

Yesterday pro-Communist troops mortared a nearby airstrip vital to Nam Tha, a provincial capital. The latest report reaching

Luang Prabang, the Royal capital, said that the mor.tar fire had forced Nam Tha’s defenders to move their headquarters from the town to higher ground to the west. Military officials believe that the Pathet Lao have broken through the Royal Government lines six miles south of Nam Tha to bring their mortars within range of the airstrip. Agreement Wanted

The neutralist leader, Prince Souvanna Phouma told the three-Power control commission of Indians. Canadians and Poles today that he and his halfbrother, Prince Souphanouvong, of the pro-Communist Pathet Lao rebels, wanted a “written cease-fire agreement.”

The cease-fire appeals were issued as the way was opened for a new round of negotiations between Prince Souvanna Prince Souphanouvong and Prince Boun Oum, the Prime Minister. General Phoumi told reporters before leaving Luang Prabang for the administrative capital of Vientiane that Prince Souvanna and Prince Souphanouvong could come to Luang Prabang for reconciliation talks tomorrow “and we will be waiting for them.” The talks had been scheduled to open yesterday but were cancelled after Prince Boun Oum and Prince Souvanna refused to come to .the royal capital.