Lesotho military seize control of police headquarters

Maseru - A Lesotho government minister and member of the ruling coalition said on Saturday that the country's military had seized control of the police headquarters and jammed radio stations and phones.

"The armed forces, the special forces of Lesotho, have taken the headquarters of the police," sports minister and leader of the Basotho National Party Thesele Maseribane said, describing a possible coup attempt in the small nation.

"They were driving around the residence of the prime minister and my residence in the early hours of Saturday morning," he said.

"There have been some gunfighting.

"They've jammed phones, they have jammed everything," he added.

Maseribane said he fled hours earlier after being warned.

"The commander said he was looking for me, the prime minister and the deputy minster to take us to the king. In our country that means a coup," he added.

He insisted Prime Minister Tom Thabane's government was still in control.

"The prime minister and myself, (we are) still the coalition government. The prime minister is still in power."

Thabane was "fine", he added, declining to elaborate where the prime minister was.

"There's still a lot of danger. People who have arms are running around Maseru."