Updated

A police official says Lesotho's prime minister has returned home safely after military actions forced him to flee the mountainous kingdom over the weekend.

Assistant Police Commissioner Lehloka Maphatsoe said Wednesday that South African police and defense forces are in the capital, Maseru, for Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's personal security. He said the deputy prime minister and others who were in South Africa for talks have also returned.

Lesotho's crisis started Saturday when the military disarmed police stations. Radios were also jammed in what the prime minister said was a coup attempt in the country of 2 million people.

The southern African regional body is sending an envoy and an observer team to Lesotho to help restore stability.

Maphatsoe said the public will later be addressed on the way forward.