PM survives assassination bid
2009-04-22 19:00
Maseru - Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili survived an attempt on his life after gunmen opened fire at his home in the capital Maseru on Wednesday morning, local media reported.
Privately owned Harvest FM reported that three men were killed in a gunfight with police after a group of heavily armed men stormed the presidential residence, in what was described as a botched assassination bid.
One of the men killed was a member of the Lesotho defence force, according to the broadcaster.
Some of the men managed to escape, but a South African and a Mozambican national were arrested and a number of weapons were seized, said the report.
Mosisili, 64, was elected in 1998 as leader of the small mountainous kingdom, which is entirely surrounded by South Africa.
He served as defence minister before becoming prime minister.