LESOTHO: MASERU: TROOPS MOVE TO QUELL OUTBREAK OF LOOTING

Описание: (24 Sep 1998) English/Nat

After suppressing mutinous troops in Lesotho, soldiers from South Africa and Botswana are now moving to quell an outbreak of looting in the capital, Maseru.

But this has sparked off a looting and arson spree by civilians.

Lesotho's citizens, including foreign nationals are outraged by the tactics of South Africa and Botswana and say those countries should have considered negotiations before bringing in the military.

Although calm has returned to the southern African kingdom of Lesotho, foreign troops are still patrolling the streets.

Groups of opportunistic looters roamed the capital, although in smaller numbers than in the previous two days.

At least 66 people have been killed in the fighting which broke out on Tuesday.

Lesotho's Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili requested the intervention two weeks ago amid a revolt by junior Lesotho military officers and strikes that paralysed Maseru.

The mutineers had apparently sided with opposition parties that claimed elections last May - swept by the ruling Lesotho Congress Party - were
rigged.

But facing stiff resistance that killed at least eight South African soldiers, the intervention force announced on Wednesday the peacekeepers would use heavier weapons and would shoot to kill.

Seventeen more South Africans were wounded in the combat - South Africa's first military intervention since the end of apartheid.

South Africa's President Nelson Mandela said 58 Lesotho rebels had been killed.

The military also said 170 mutinous Lesotho soldiers had been captured.

South African armoured personnel carriers were highly visible in the capital's business area and reports say that several Botswana vehicles were also spotted.

Some 200 soldiers from Botswana had joined the intervention on Wednesday.

Some shops in the almost completely gutted business district continued to smoulder.

Chinese and Indian merchants were particular targets of the looters.

South African military officials in Pretoria warned in a statement on Wednesday that their men would now use more firepower to suppress the Lesotho mutineers.

South African officials have stressed the intervention came under the authority of the Southern African Development Community.

So far, more than a thousand foreign nationals have fled the capital, Maseru.

The South African intervention has deeply angered residents.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"How they are going to sort out this mess. Because this has happened once too often, that we have to pack up and leave and come back. But this one, this problem is mainly political and mainly due to the South African troops coming in and fighting."
SUPER CAPTION: Anthony Safi, Businessman

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"So I really condemn this thing. This thing is a brutal action against us. Especially because Mr Mandela, he really knows that Lesotho is a country which harbouring him during the struggle. And he is brutalising the same country. Even the general Viljoen (Former General Constand Viljoen of the then S-A-D-F South African Defence Force, but presently is leader of Freedom Front, Lesotho's Opposition party) the former general - he condemned this thing. Tony Leon of the (South African) Democratic Party condemned this thing. This guy could have talked and solve this matter without sending the troops."
SUPER CAPTION: Setsomi Molapo, Student

Some 1000 people, mostly Asians, have reportedly crossed the border and sought asylum in neighbouring South Africa.

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