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Thomas Thabane said he would go back to Lesotho and
would step aside if he lost the next election
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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, reports by BBC, AP & GN
Speaking
to the reporters, 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
from Lesotho say the capital, Maseru, is now calm after soldiers seized key
buildings.
Lesotho has seen a series
of military coups since independence in 1966.
Political
tensions have been high in the tiny kingdom that is completely surrounded by
South Africa since June when there was a power struggle after Prime Minister
Thomas Thabane suspended parliament to dodge a vote of no confidence.
The
landlocked country's first coalition government was formed in 2012 after
competitive elections that ousted the 14-year incumbent Pakalitha Mosisili, who
peacefully stepped down from power. The coalition has since been fragile.
Lesotho
has seen unrest in its past and has seen a number of military coups since
gaining independence from Britain in 1966.
The constitutional
government was restored in 1993, after seven years of military rule.
Violent
protests and a military mutiny in 1998 came after a contentious election
prompted intervention by South African and military forces, under the authority
of the South African Development Community. Political stability returned after
constitutional reforms, and parliamentary elections were peacefully held in
2002.
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