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                        Reported Coup Attempt in Lesotho

   by VOA News

   Gunfire was heard in Lesotho early Saturday morning as military units
   surrounded government buildings, including police offices in the
   capital.

   Witnesses say the move is apparently part of a coup attempt in the
   small mountainous southern African kingdom that is entirely surrounded
   by South Africa.

   VOA spoke to a staffer at the U.S. embassy in Lesotho's capital,
   Maseru, who confirmed that soldiers were patrolling the streets. He did
   not say who was behind the apparent coup attempt.

   VOA spoke to another American embassy staffer who confirmed reports of
   a coup attempt but gave no details. Neither person reported any
   casualties.

   Diplomatic officials in South Africa could not be reached for comment
   early Saturday, but local media reported that they would release
   information later in the day.

   A shaky coalition has governed Lesotho since elections two years ago.
   Coalition partners patched up the fragile deal through mediators in
   June.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/lesotho/2433099.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/lesotho/2433099.html