/ 17 August 1998

Maseru tense after shooting

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Maseru | Monday 10.15PM.

THE capital of Lesotho, Maseru, was tense on Monday night after two opposition party supporters were shot dead, and 32 people were injured when police opened fire on a group of sleeping protestors outside the royal palace gates at about 4am on Monday.

Basotholand Congress Party executive member Khauhelo Raditapole earlier said that a third person killed, but only two deaths have been confirmed, those of a young man and a 16-year-old girl.

Between 500 and 600 people are still gathered at the palace gates on Monday night. The rest of the protesters have apparently gone to the venue of the three-nation commission investigating claims of election irregularities.

There was little traffic in Maseru’s streets on Monday and many businesses were closed, those that did open closed early.