- Title: LESOTHO: KING MOSHEOESHOE II RESTORED TO THRONE OF LESOTHO
- Date: 25th January 1995
- Summary: MASERU, LESOTHO (JANUARY 25, 1995) (RTV-ACCESS ALL) 1. GVS PEOPLE SEATED IN GRANDSTAND AT STADIUM/PEOPLE DANCING 0.09 2. GV/SV MILITARY PARADE 0.18 3. SV ARRIVAL OF SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF SPORT STEVE TSWETE 0.23 4. SCU ZIMBABWEAN PRIME MINISTER ROBERT MUGABE 0.29 5. SV/GV ARRIVAL OF KING MOSHOESHOE WITH WIFE/CROWD 0.38 6. SCU EX-KING LETSIE TAKES HIS SEAT 0.45 7. SV LETSIE SIGNS ABDICATION DOCUMENT 0.51 8. SCU MUGABE 0.56 9. SVS/GV MOSHOESHOE TAKES OATH/ CROWD WAVES/MOSHOESHOE SIGNS 1.22 9. SV/SCU MOSHOESHOE HUGS WIFE AND LETSIE 1.43 10.SCU SENIOR OFFICER 1.48 11.SCU/GV OFFICER/MOSHOESHOE SEATED 1.58 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 9th February 1995 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MASERU, LESOTHO
- City:
- Country: AFRICA Lesotho
- Reuters ID: LVA6YKOM3C3PBZK9RX7EVRS3HDX7
- Story Text: Lesotho's King Moshoeshoe II was restored to the throne on Wednesday (January 25) five years after being deposed by a military government and made a strong call for unity and peace.
The return of Moshoeshoe, 55, as monarch and the abdication of his son, Letsie III, raised hopes of an end to a constitutional crisis that sparked riots, strikes and threats of renewed military intervention in the government of the southern African state.
Several thousand people, many wearing traditional blankets, packed the stadium to witness the return of the king and the abdication of Letsie, who was enthroned by military rulers in 1990 after they deposed his father.
British-educated Letsie, 34, signed the abdication documents in silence after inspecting a 350-strong army guard of honour, then embraced his father after the swearing in.
The ceremony on Wednesday was the result of months of delicate negotiations involving neighbouring South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attended the ceremony with Botswana President Ketumile Masire.
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