Former Lesotho prime minister flees to S. Africa: report

Former Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has fled to South Africa out of safety concern, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported on Friday.

"I left the country because there was a threat on my life and I came to South Africa," Thabane told the SABC.

Tensions are high in Lesotho following the news that Thabane has fled the country after an assassination attempt on his life, the report said.

Thabane said his request to be guarded by the police was declined by the Lesotho government.

"I was able fortunately to brief South African authorities and Southern African Development Community leadership in a recent meeting. I think people don't want the truth to be told and that's unfortunate because we can only live by the truth," said Thabane.

Thabane, the leader of the opposition All Basotho Convention, lost the parliamentary elections in late February. He fled his country as Parliament was debating Lesotho's budget.

Thabane sought refuge in South Africa following an attempted military coup in his country in late August last year. But days later he returned home following the intervention of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Lesotho is a tiny country of just 2 million people completely surrounded by South Africa. Endi