Official says soldiers who were shot warned Lesotho prime minister of planned coup last year

JOHANNESBURG – Lesotho's government says that two soldiers have been shot outside the royal palace gates.

Thabo Thakalekoala, the prime minister's press secretary, said Monday that both men survived, while a private security guard was shot dead during the incident Sunday.

The press secretary said the two men were attacked by "renegade" soldiers who wanted to destabilize Lesotho ahead of elections at the end of the month. He said one of the men was rescued by the South African police service and taken to neighboring South Africa for medical care.

Thakalekoala said the two soldiers were among those who had warned Prime Minister Thomas Thabane of a planned coup in the southern African kingdom last year.

Thakalekoala said the other soldier was taken to a military hospital in Lesotho's capital, Maseru.