Lesotho's former PM sets condition for returning home

Exiled Lesotho's Former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane on Thursday rejected an offer to return home alone, insisting that his fellow opposition leaders should go back with him.

Thabane said that if the plight of the other opposition leaders, soldiers, lawyers and journalists who fled with him were not addressed, he would remain in South Africa.

Thabane, along with some of his followers, fled to South Africa months ago, claiming that his life was threatened.

There have been reports that Thabane would return home in accordance with an agreement he signed with Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.

Responding to the reports, Thabane said there was no agreement for him to return home alone.

Speaking at a meeting with his followers at a border town near Lesotho, Thabane said he signed the minutes of a meeting with Mosisili for the return of other opposition leaders, including Basotho National Party Leader Thesele Maseribane and Reformed Congress of Lesotho Leader Keketso Rantso.

Mosisili has called on his predecessor and other opposition leaders to return home for talks.

Lesotho was forced into an early election in late February following an attempted coup in August last year. Mosisili emerged as the winner in the elections. He fired army commander Maaparankoe Mahao after taking office and re-appointed Tlali Kamoli as army chief.

Kamoli had been fired by Thabane and was behind the attempted coup that forced the country into early elections.

Soon after Kamoli's re-appointment, several soldiers, including body guards of Thabane, were arrested and tortured on allegations that they were conniving with Mahao and former police commissioner Khothatso Tsooana to overthrow the government.

Soon afterwards, Thabane and his followers fled the country, claiming they were tipped about plots to kill them.

Mahao was killed in late June and his death has plunged Lesotho into political uncertainty. Endit