Chad factions agree to yet another truce

Feuding factions in Chad agreed to lay down their arms Tuesday as part of a cease-fire arranged by Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema, ending a 17-day civil war that claimed more than 1,500 lives, left thousands wounded, and caused some 200,000 to flee for safety to Cameroon.

French government radio said Monday that General Eyadema shuttled between the front lines of the devastated capital, N'Djamena, to win the truce agreement from President Goukouni Weddeye and his archrival, Hissene Habre, the dissident defense minister.

There were genuine doubts, however, whether the latest truce -- the fifth in recent fighting -- would hold, because civil war has broken out sporadically since Chad gained independence from France in 1960.