Army Coup Ousts Lesotho’s Leader; Colonel Takes Over

The military leader of the southern African kingdom of Lesotho was ousted in an army coup Tuesday, and diplomats said he was replaced by a colonel from the ruling Military Council.

Radio Lesotho said that Maj. Gen. Justin M. Lekhanya was arrested Tuesday morning. He later announced his resignation in a quavering voice over the radio.

Diplomats said the army had chosen Col. Elias Ramaema to replace him.

Ramaema, a career soldier in his late 50s, is the last survivor of the original six-member Military Council that seized power in a bloodless coup under Lekhanya in 1986.

Diplomatic sources said the coup apparently was sparked by dissatisfaction among the army rank and file over pay increases and did not signal a change in government policy.

They said Ramaema appeared to have been selected because he was regarded as honest and straightforward.

Lekhanya, 53, took power in a coup that ousted Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan, who had ruled Lesotho since independence from Britain 20 years earlier.

Diplomatic sources said the coup surprised the mountainous nation of 1.6 million people, which is surrounded by South Africa.

Lekhanya said in his statement that he resigned because of popular criticism of his rule and of the Military Council.