News In Brief

Mozambique, rebes agree to a cease-fire

Mozambique and anti-Marxist rebels agreed to a cease-fire Wednesday in the guerrillas' decade-long war against the government, South African President Pieter W. Botha said, and he added that ''the South African government has been requested to play a role in the implementation of the declaration.''

The first organized resistance to Mozambican President Samora Machel began in December 1975 and became a full-blown war against the government in 1977, two years after Mr. Machel's 10-year war for independence ended Portuguese colonial rule.