Lesotho military mum about coup

Johannesburg - Maseru residents said on Twitter on Saturday morning that there had been continued gunfire in Lesotho's capital.

Earlier a Lesotho government minister and member of the ruling coalition, Thesele Maseribane said that the country's military had seized control of the police headquarters and jammed radio stations and phones.

Maseribane, sports minister and leader of the Basotho National Party, describing a possible coup attempt, said: "They're driving around the residence of the prime minister and my residence.

"There have been some gunfighting.

"They've jammed phones...they have jammed everything," he added.

A security guard at the US embassy, Bernard Ntlhoaea, said gunfire could be heard early on Saturday morning, but it had since stopped.

"The military has been moving around from 03:00, occupying police stations in Maseru and moving around to other districts," said Ntlhoaea.

He said the military was armed and he saw at least one armoured personnel carrier on the streets.

Radio stations were not broadcasting, except for a Catholic station, which maintained normal programming, he said.

Lesotho, located within South Africa's borders, had undergone several military coups since gaining independence from Britain in 1966.