A MUTINY by policemen in the minuscule kingdom of Lesotho was crushed yesterday by soldiers loyal to the Prime Minister, Mr Ntsu Mokhehele.
There were no immediate reports of casualties after 70 rebellious policemen surrendered to their compatriots in the army.
The rebellion began on February 6th when eight junior police officers accused of murdering three of their colleagues seized control of the police headquarters in the capital, Maseru. The mutineers protested their innocence, claiming in addition that they qualified for indemnity granted to the armed forces in 1995.
The seizure of the police headquarters was followed by the occupation of the main charge office and, according to unconfirmed reports, the take over of several other police stations. The mutiny was reported to have been backed by a majority of the 3,000 strong Royal Lesotho Police.
The insurrection invoked great concern in South Africa, which completely surrounds the mountain kingdom. South Africa employs thousands of Lesotho nationals on farms and mines.
On Friday, less than 48 hours before Lesotho soldiers launched their dawn attack on the mutinous policemen, Mr Mandela held talks with Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano on the Lesotho crisis. The two leaders also discussed the tense situation in Swaziland, the tiny kingdom sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique where the local trade union federation is pressing for a democratic constitution.
But the Lesotho crisis exploded after soldiers surrounded police headquarters in Maseru and erected road blocks to keep the town centre clear of civilians. Bursts of artillery and rifle fire were heard intermittently.
By 1 p.m. it was over Radio Lesotho announced that the rebels had surrendered and civilians were allowed back into the streets.
The police mutiny was the latest in a series of crises afflicting Lesotho since it won independence from Britain in 1966, including two coups, one to abort the first post independence election in 1970 and another to topple the National Party leader, Chief Leabua Jonathan, in 1986.