Lesotho Military Moves on Police - New York Times ~ Google News

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Africa |Lesotho Military Moves on Police

http://nyti.ms/1lBsRJf

JOHANNESBURG â€” Lesothoâ€™s military seized two police stations on Saturday as gunfire rang out in the capital of the kingdom. The countryâ€™s prime minister said the actions amounted to a coup, although a spokesman for the army said the soldiers were only securing the country.

Political tensions have been high in Lesotho, which is surrounded by South Africa, since June, when there was a power struggle after Prime Minister Thomas Thabane suspended Parliament to avoid a vote of no confidence.

â€œAs we speak now, the situation in Lesotho, in the capital, is back to normal,â€ said Ntlele Ntoi, a spokesman for the defense forces.

The military had gathered intelligence that the police were going to arm factions in a demonstration planned for Monday by one of the coalition parties, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy, he said. The military disarmed the police in the capital, Maseru, to avoid bloodshed, Mr. Ntoi said.

But Mr. Thabane told South Africaâ€™s eNCA television that the militaryâ€™s actions amounted to a coup. He said he did not give permission for the action, and that he would meet with South African officials, whom he expected to help his government restore law and order.

An exchange of gunfire on Saturday between the military, youths and the police injured one soldier and four police officers, Mr. Ntoi said.