Zuma prods Lesotho leaders to renew peace talks

MASERU, Rival Lesotho leaders vowed to resolve an 11- day crisis that has spurred calls for regional military intervention in the tiny African nation, after South Africa brokered talks on Tuesday.

The sparring factions agreed to hold further negotiations and present a concrete date for reopening Lesotho’s parliament to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on Friday.

“We had very frank and good kind of discussions,” said Zuma after the three- hour meeting, aimed at keeping a week- old peace deal alive.

“We’re just about to get there,” said Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, who suspended parliament in June and has struggled to preserve his coalition government – a rarity in African politics.

But the parties remained silent on how to tackle the “renegade” Lesotho military commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, who is accused of triggering the crisis on August 30, one day after he was fired by Thabane.

Kamoli allegedly attempted an early morning coup, including the botched abduction of Thabane and an assault on several police stations.

Thabane f led to South Africa in the aftermath.

The general has refused to step down and last week led a circle of army loyalists in looting an armoury.

Reports suggest he has hunkered down in military barracks outside the capital.

Zuma has refused Thabane’s request to deploy troops from the 15-member Southern African Development Community. — AFP