/ 12 March 1999

‘PRIESTS BEHIND LESOTHO MUTINY’

ROMAN Catholic priests incited Lesotho Defence Force troops to overthrow their commanders and later the government in a failed coup bid last year, according to court martial evidence heard on Friday. The evidence was contained in a military intelligence report submitted by the commander of the Lesotho army, Lieutenant-General Makhula Mosakeng. Mosakeng said priests visited the soldiers at night the month before the coup attempt, and encouraged them to mutiny. The mutiny led the government to fear a coup was under way and Prime Minister Pakalita Mosisili requested help from the 14-country Southern African Development Community.