Word: lesotho
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Strolling through the peaceful vegetable gardens and fruit trees at his country retreat 40 miles outside the capital city, Maseru, Lesotho's Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan early last week was the picture of self-confidence. Yes, admitted the Prime Minister, his country had been shaken by a 19-day ) blockade by South Africa, which completely surrounds the mountainous kingdom (pop. 1.5 million). But Chief Jonathan, 71, who had ruled Lesotho (pronounced Leh-sue-too) in an increasingly autocratic manner since its independence from Britain in 1966, smoothly dismissed rumors that his government might be toppled by a military takeover...
Less than 24 hours later, Radio Lesotho opened its morning broadcast with a loud burst of the national anthem and a terse announcement that Jonathan's government had been overthrown and replaced with a military council headed by Major General Justin Lekhanya, 47. The country's King Moshoeshoe II, 47, remained head of state and was given additional powers beyond his ceremonial role...
...Lesotho people greeted the news with undisguised glee. Crowds jammed the main street of Maseru to cheer the soldiers. Outside the city, celebrators joyously tore down a highway sign bearing Jonathan's name. The news was just as warmly received in South Africa, which allowed three freight trains carrying vital food and gasoline to pass into Lesotho for the first time in three weeks...
...weeks ago, Jonathan sent a delegation to Pretoria to discuss a settlement. Diplomatic sources in Maseru suggest that General Lekhanya, a member of the group, decided to stage his coup when the South Africans told him that they would continue the blockade and might openly raid A.N.C. bases in Lesotho if the country did not change its policies toward Communist countries and the A.N.C. The day after the coup, Lekhanya sent a new delegation to Pretoria. After meeting with its members, Foreign Minister Roelof ("Pik") Botha announced that the two countries had agreed to work toward "good neighborliness...
...Defense Force, accused the ANC of carrying out dozens of terrorist acts in South Africa from bases in Botswana. He said the organization was planning an assassination campaign against government officials and black and mixed-race moderates. The South African raid resembled a 1982 attack on ANC bases in Lesotho and later operations against guerrillas in Mozambique. South African officials contend that the guerrillas regrouped in Botswana and Angola after being driven from Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. Foreign Minister Roelof ("Pik") Botha said that South Africa had warned Botswana repeatedly about harboring terrorists. "We will not allow ourselves...