Lesotho leader killed

DURBAN - At least one minister in Lesotho was killed by mutinous troops yesterday and four others were kidnapped and taken to an army barracks but later released, writes Richard Dowden.

The dead minister was named as Selomotsi Solemetsi Baholo, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance. News agencies reported eyewitnesses as saying that the soldiers arrived at Mr Baholo's house near the capital Maseru before dawn yesterday and tried to force entry by firing into the building. There were unconfirmed reports that another minister had also been killed by the troops.

The soldiers appear to have been mutinying over pay. In January the South African Defence Force sent troops to Lesotho to help quell a mutiny by soldiers demanding a pay increase.