News: Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane Exiled In Coup, Flees To S.A

Thomas Motsoahae Thabane, the Prime Minister and head of Lesotho’s government, has declared that his country is effectively under coup from the country’s military forces. He said the army had surrounded government buildings and was occupying police stations.
President Thabane, who fled into neighboring South Africa earlier today, vowed to return to Lesotho as soon as he was certain he would not be assassinated.
However, Ntlele Ntoi, military spokesman, has told The Associated Press that the military has not conducted a coup. Ntoi explained to journalists that the military acted upon intelligence that the police planned to supply weapons to certain groups participating in an up coming demonstration. Military action was necessary to avoid civilian deaths.
Lesotho’s sports minister, Thesele Maseribane has also confirmed that the military had surrounded government buildings but that government affairs were still being conducted by the government’s agencies.
Lesotho, a country of 2 million people, is geographically landlocked by South Africa and has experienced many military coups since independence in 1966.