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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Lesotho 'coup' forces PM Thabane to South Africa | Lesotho 'coup' forces PM Thabane to South Africa |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The prime minister of the southern African kingdom of Lesotho has fled to South Africa, alleging a coup by the army and saying his life is in danger. | The prime minister of the southern African kingdom of Lesotho has fled to South Africa, alleging a coup by the army and saying his life is in danger. |
| Speaking to the BBC, Thomas Thabane said he would return from South Africa, which surrounds Lesotho, "as soon as I know I am not going to get killed". | Speaking to the BBC, Thomas Thabane said he would return from South Africa, which surrounds Lesotho, "as soon as I know I am not going to get killed". |
| Reports say the capital, Maseru, is now calm after soldiers seized buildings. The army denied staging a coup. | Reports say the capital, Maseru, is now calm after soldiers seized buildings. The army denied staging a coup. |
| Lesotho has seen a series of military coups since independence in 1966. | Lesotho has seen a series of military coups since independence in 1966. |
| Mr Thabane has headed a unity government since, but suspended parliament sessions in June amid feuding in his coalition. | Mr Thabane has headed a unity government since, but suspended parliament sessions in June amid feuding in his coalition. |
| He denied accusations that his actions had undermined his government. | He denied accusations that his actions had undermined his government. |
| 'Illegal coup' | 'Illegal coup' |
| Mr Thabane said the army had rendered the government "dysfunctional", an action that amounted to a coup. | Mr Thabane said the army had rendered the government "dysfunctional", an action that amounted to a coup. |
| "I have been removed from control not by the people but by the armed forces, and that is illegal," he told the BBC's Newshour programme. | "I have been removed from control not by the people but by the armed forces, and that is illegal," he told the BBC's Newshour programme. |
| "I came into South Africa this morning and I will return as soon as my life is not in danger. I will not go back to Lesotho to get killed." | "I came into South Africa this morning and I will return as soon as my life is not in danger. I will not go back to Lesotho to get killed." |
| South Africa's government described the situation as "worrying", with spokesman Clayson Monyela saying the country would not tolerate "unconstitutional change of government". | South Africa's government described the situation as "worrying", with spokesman Clayson Monyela saying the country would not tolerate "unconstitutional change of government". |
| At the scene: Basildon Peta, Maseru, Lesotho | At the scene: Basildon Peta, Maseru, Lesotho |
| This whole thing started around 03:00. There were gunshots since early morning. The city is currently calm. People are playing it safe within their homes, but there is basically a media blackout. | This whole thing started around 03:00. There were gunshots since early morning. The city is currently calm. People are playing it safe within their homes, but there is basically a media blackout. |
| To all intents and purposes it is a military coup with the aim of ousting the prime minister. There can be no other reason of soldiers behaving the way they have been behaving other than to seize power. | To all intents and purposes it is a military coup with the aim of ousting the prime minister. There can be no other reason of soldiers behaving the way they have been behaving other than to seize power. |
| So far we have no reports of killings. It would be correct to call it a bloodless coup attempt. But I am not going to stick around. The chances are the situation may deteriorate. One does not know what is going to happen. | So far we have no reports of killings. It would be correct to call it a bloodless coup attempt. But I am not going to stick around. The chances are the situation may deteriorate. One does not know what is going to happen. |
| Basildon Peta is the publisher of the Lesotho Times | Basildon Peta is the publisher of the Lesotho Times |
| The army is understood to have acted after the prime minister attempted to remove its chief, Lt Gen Kennedy Tlai Kamoli. | The army is understood to have acted after the prime minister attempted to remove its chief, Lt Gen Kennedy Tlai Kamoli. |
| The army said the general was still in charge, saying the military "supports the democratically elected government of the day," Reuters news agency reported. | |
| A spokesman, Maj Ntlele Ntoi, denied staging a coup, saying: "There is nothing like that, the situation has returned to normalcy... the military has returned to their barracks." | A spokesman, Maj Ntlele Ntoi, denied staging a coup, saying: "There is nothing like that, the situation has returned to normalcy... the military has returned to their barracks." |
| Earlier, troops were seen on the streets of Maseru and there were reports of gunfire. | Earlier, troops were seen on the streets of Maseru and there were reports of gunfire. |
| Radio stations were taken off air and phone lines were cut, although later reports suggested they were working again. | Radio stations were taken off air and phone lines were cut, although later reports suggested they were working again. |
| Sports Minister Thesele Maseribane told the AFP news agency that troops had surrounded State House, a key government building. | Sports Minister Thesele Maseribane told the AFP news agency that troops had surrounded State House, a key government building. |
| Are you in Maseru or elsewhere in Lesotho? You can share your views and experiences by emailing Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in Maseru or elsewhere in Lesotho? You can share your views and experiences by emailing Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |