Lesotho leaders agree to hold early elections, reports say

Lesotho leaders have agreed to hold early elections, South African broadcaster eNCA reported Tuesday, following an alleged coup attempt in August.

The elections were scheduled for 2017.

The decision was announced late Monday after an emergency meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Pretoria.

"The election date is to be announced as soon as possible," South African International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said.

Lesotho political leaders met South African President Jacob Zuma and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

SADC also decided to send an observer mission to the southern African kingdom for three months following the events of August 30, when soldiers seized weapons from police stations and surrounded Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's residence.

The army denied staging a coup and said it was only disarming "rogue elements" within the police force.

Thabane fled to South Africa, returning some days later under a South African police guard.

He has not kept a promise of reopening parliament after he suspended it to avoid a no-confidence vote in June. Thabane claims the situation is too unstable for parliament to function.

Lieutenant-General Tlali Kamoli, who is blamed for the alleged coup attempt after Thabane sacked him from the post of army chief, has taken refuge in the mountains with supporters and weapons seized from the armoury, according to several media reports.

Thabane's deputy Mothetjoa Metsing, who has governed Lesotho in a shaky coalition with the premier since 2012, has denied involvement in the alleged coup.

The mountain kingdom of 2 million residents has experienced frequent political unrest since independence from Britain in 1966.

Sapa-dpa