PM to testify against journo
2007-10-03 13:18
Maseru - Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili is to appear as a prosecution witness in the trial of a prominent journalist who has been charged with inciting political unrest, say court officials.
A spokesperson at the high court in the capital Maseru says the prime minister's office has informed them that he will be available from December 12 when the case against radio presenter Thabo Thakalekoala is due to resume.
Thakalekoala was out on bail after being arrested in June outside Harvest FM, the radio station on which he conducted a popular morning talk show.
The presenter was detained after he read out a letter on air, allegedly written by unnamed army officers, which called for the arrest of Mosisili and his entire cabinet for corruption.
After his arrest, Thakalekoala refused to name the authors of the letter, saying he was entitled to protect his sources.
The small southern African kingdom had been rocked by political unrest since Mosisili was returned to power for a third term in disputed elections in February.
A number of shootings included an attack by gunmen on the home of opposition leader Tom Thabane. Cabinet ministers had been targeted in incidents that in last June incited authorities to clap a curfew on Maseru for several days.