{"id":44449,"date":"2014-09-03T12:27:20","date_gmt":"2014-09-03T12:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=44449"},"modified":"2014-09-03T12:27:20","modified_gmt":"2014-09-03T12:27:20","slug":"lesotho-pm-thabane-returns-home-after-fleeing-coup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/09\/lesotho-pm-thabane-returns-home-after-fleeing-coup\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesotho PM Thabane returns home after fleeing ‘coup’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has returned home after fleeing the mountain kingdom to neighbouring South Africa on Saturday.<\/p>\n

At the time he said the military had staged a coup – a charge it denied.<\/p>\n

Regional leaders rejected his call for troops to be deployed to restore order.<\/p>\n

The unrest is thought to be linked to a struggle between Mr Thabane, reportedly supported by the police, and Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing, said to have the loyalty of the army.<\/p>\n

\"Map\"<\/div>\n

Mr Thabane has headed a unity government since elections in May 2012, but suspended parliament sessions in June amid feuding in his coalition.<\/p>\n

Lesotho, which is surrounded by South Africa, has experienced several coups since independence in 1966.<\/p>\n

Audience with the king<\/p>\n

A source in Maseru told the BBC that Mr Thabane and Mr Metsing were escorted into the capital by South African police.<\/p>\n

It is reported by be calm in the city, with business continuing as usual.<\/p>\n

South African police are guarding state house, the prime minister’s official residence, and Mr Metsing’s home, the source said.<\/p>\n

\"Basuto<\/div>\n
Lesotho is a largely rural country dominated by mountains and surrounded on all sides by South Africa<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Army<\/div>\n
The army has denied it was involved in a plot to take power<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prime Minister Thabane and his deputies are due to appear before King Letsie III later to present a report about meetings held on Sunday and Monday in South Africa to resolve the crisis.<\/p>\n

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma held separate talks, under the auspices of the South African Development Community (Sadc) regional bloc, with Mr Tabane and his rivals.<\/p>\n

Conflict broke out on Saturday morning with soldiers involved in an exchange of fire outside two police stations.<\/p>\n

One police officer was killed and four wounded after the military intervened, police say.<\/p>\n

A military spokesman had said the army had received intelligence that the police were going to arm factions ahead of a march by Mr Metsing’s Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has returned home after fleeing the mountain kingdom to neighbouring South Africa on Saturday. At the time he said the military had staged a coup – a charge it denied. Regional leaders rejected his call for troops to be deployed to restore order. The unrest is thought to be linked […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":44452,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[14],"yoast_head":"\nLesotho PM Thabane returns home after fleeing 'coup' - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. 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