Lesotho - Aftermath of arson and looting

(27 Sep 1998) T/I: 11:12:47 Maseru, the capital, was calm Sunday (27/09), but in ruins. Most of its business district was destroyed by arson and looting following last Tuesday's intervention by South Africa. Thousands of people converged Sunday on the capital to begin a clean-up campaign. The intervention, which troops from Botswana joined on Wednesday, aimed to prevent a military mutiny from escalating into a coup and to bolster the civilian government elected last May. SHOWS: MASERU, LESOTHO, 27/09 VS troops in Maseru town; WS South African soldier walking amongst Lesotho army troops and mutineers; WS group of army mutineers walking en-masse; MCU South African Army Commander addressing mutineers, in English "You report in uniform, with weapons eight o'clock Monday morning. You have time, until Monday 1600 hours, four o'clock in the afternoon. If you are not here, obviously we will have to go and look for you." VS mutineers during address; SOT continues "You tell your friends, they must stop what they are doing, it is wrong. That it is important, from Monday you will come here, eight o'clock in the morning and you will sort out your differences within your organisation of which we do not have any part. You are therefore now free to go, as you leave the gate we will take your address."; VS mutineers leaving; VS traffic and troops directing traffic; MCU troops; VS aftermath of looting and fighting; MS women walking down street; WS tank sitting on side of road; CU barrel of gun; Troops sitting on tank; Tank passes burnt-out car; TILT tank on road; 2.54 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...