U.S. orders some embassy family members to leave Lesotho

Washington said Monday that it had ordered non-employed family members of the embassy personnel in Lesotho to leave due to uncertainty over the kingdom's security situation.

"The Department of State has ordered the departure of non-employed family members of U.S. mission personnel due to concerns over a possible deterioration of the security situation in Lesotho," department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said in a statement.

"Citizens should be aware the embassy may be forced to suspend operations without advance notice if the security situation deteriorates further," she added.

The Lesotho's military launched an attempted coup on Saturday by occupying key buildings, seizing the police headquarters and raiding the residence of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane in the capital city of Maseru, forcing the premier to seek refuge in South Africa.

Thabane was on his way home following the intervention on Monday of the Southern African Development Community, a 15-member inter-governmental body based in Gaborone, Botswana.

"The United States remains deeply concerned by uncertainty over the political process and the state of public security in Lesotho's capital Maseru," Psaki said.

"We continue to call upon government officials and all parties to reach a resolution through peaceful dialogue," she added.