S. African Troops, Lesotho Rebels Clash -- Violent Protests, Army Revolt Leads Neighbor To Intervene
MASERU, Lesotho - South African soldiers rumbled into this mountain kingdom at dawn today to quell weeks of anarchy. They met unexpected resistance, and five soldiers died in heavy fighting, the South African military said.
The troops secured military bases and the royal palace, but battles with rebellious Lesotho soldiers persisted throughout the day. At least nine soldiers were wounded.
In addition, the bodies of five Lesotho citizens were brought to the capital's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which also treated 54 people for gunshot wounds. It was not known if the 54 wounded were soldiers or civilians.
At the border, supporters of the rebel troops set a barricade afire and taunted the South Africans as they crossed into Lesotho, bringing attack helicopters, mortar units and armored personnel carriers.
The action - South Africa's first major post-apartheid military intervention - follows weeks of opposition-party demonstrations over allegations of election-rigging and an army rebellion that effectively paralyzed the government.
Lesotho, an impoverished kingdom slightly smaller than Maryland with a population of 2 million people, is surrounded by South African territory and is dependent on its neighbor's economy. The intervention follows fruitless efforts by South African mediators over the weekend to bring the government and opponents together in talks.
Believing a coup was imminent, Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili called on regional powers to intervene, said Mangosuthu Buthelezi, South Africa's home affairs minister.
Today, protesters firebombed government buildings, looters rampaged through downtown, and cars with South African license plates were stoned in the wake of the military intervention. Whole shopping centers were gutted by fire, and smoke drifted from many parts of the capital, Maseru.
The 60 to 70 American citizens who live in Maseru were told to stay indoors, U.S. Ambassador Katherine Peterson said. About 300 Americans live in Lesotho.
A heavy firefight raged at a military barracks near the capital's airport, where mortar explosions also were heard. Fifteen armored vehicles equipped with cannons came to reinforce the South Africans.
Officials said the South African force secured Lesotho military headquarters, the main air force base, the central business district and the neighborhood were most diplomats and Cabinet members live.
The South Africans met strong resistance in the morning at the royal palace, at a dam in the central part of the country and at two military bases, said a South African military spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Laverne Machine.
The South African troops faced anti-aircraft and small-arms fire at the military bases, said another spokesman, Maj. Ben van Zyl. Rebel soldiers were arming civilians with assault rifles.
She said 200 soldiers from Botswana were expected later in the day to join the 600 South African troops already in Lesotho.
King Letsie III was reported safe and being protected by South African soldiers.
The mobilization caps weeks of unrest by opposition demonstrators who claim May elections swept by the Lesotho Congress Party were rigged. The Congress party won 79 of 80 seats but scored only 61 percent of the vote.