* Soldiers seen on streets of capital
* Fears of repeat of 1998 unrest in “world’s highest
country”
* S.Africa, Botswana sent in troops 14 years ago
By Marafaele Mohloboli
MASERU, May 29 (Reuters) – Soldiers deployed in Lesotho’s
capital on Tuesday after an inconclusive weekend election that
has left many in the African highland kingdom fearing a repeat
of the violence that followed a disputed poll in 1998.
Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, in charge of the
landlocked nation of 2 million for the past 14 years, emerged
from Saturday’s election as the most powerful player in
parliament but has fallen short of an outright majority.
Three opposition parties unveiled an anti-Mosisili
coalition, setting the stage for a rerun of 1998, when post-poll
wrangling led to weeks of unrest that ultimately triggered
military intervention by neighbouring South Africa and Botswana
to restore order.
At least 58 locals and eight South African soldiers died in
that fighting and large parts of Maseru were damaged.
“The opposition is trying to announce that it has formed a
coalition against Mosisili because they have sufficient numbers
to form a government,” said Hoolo ‘Nyane, director of the
Transformation Resource Centre, a Maseru think-tank.
Continued…
