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MASERU – Lesotho has brought forward 2017 elections by two years to try to resolve political tensions in the southern African country after an attempted coup in August, South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said yesterday.General elections will now be held towards the end of February next year, said Ramaphosa, who has been mediating between rival political factions, at a news conference in the capital Maseru.
“His majesty King Letsie III will reconvene parliament on the 17th of October 2014,” he said.
“The sitting of the parliament will be limited to passing of a budget and to do all other related matters regarding the holding of early elections.
“National general elections will be held towards the end of February 2015 and on a date that will be determined by his majesty the king,” he said.
Ramaphosa was in the country as part of his Southern African Development Community mandate to facilitate talks and find a solution after an attempted coup by the military on August 30.
The king of the mountainous kingdom, which is completely surrounded by South Africa, will reconvene parliament on October 17, Ramaphosa said.
On August 30 the country was rocked by a coup attempt that saw the prime minister flee to South Africa and the military attack several police stations, killing one officer and forcibly disarming police.
Police are seen as loyal to Thabane while sections of the military are allied to his political foes.
The August violence was blamed on Lesotho Defence Force commander Tlali Kamoli, who has refused to step down and has been blamed for a series of attacks on police and political rivals.
Kamoli – who is reportedly surrounded by a group of armed loyalists – faces accusations of mutiny and treason, but remains free. -Reuters/Sapa/AFP
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