Lesotho's political leaders were summoned by South African President Jacob Zuma for emergency talks after the military in the landlocked kingdom carried out an attempted coup.
Deputy President Mothetjoa Metsing left Lesotho Sunday for talks with Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and Zuma, Foreign Affairs Minister Mohlabi Tsekoa told reporters in the capital, Maseru. Zuma is head of the Southern African Development Community's defense, politics and security council.
Thabane fled Lesotho on Saturday, saying the army tried to overthrow him. The military claimed it disarmed police officers who threatened to destabilize the nation. Lesotho has been run by a three-party coalition government since elections two years ago. In June, Thabane suspended parliament through February, even as the other coalition partners said they didn't sanction such a move.