Lesotho vote for democracy

After several false starts, Lesotho's long quest for democracy could be realised today when the tiny African kingdom holds its first free election in 23 years, AP reports from Maseru. But fears of violence and vote-rigging, along with the military's apparent reluctance to give up power, have raised questions about the country's ability to embrace civilian rule. Lesotho's last election, in 1970, collapsed when the former prime minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, annulled the result and declared a state of emergency because his ruling Basotho National Party was losing to the Basotho Congress Party.