Claiming Lesotho's military staged a coup starting around 3 a.m. Friday, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane fled the landlocked mountain nation and appealed for South African intervention.

Thabane was at an undisclosed location in South Africa, saying he feared he would be killed should he return to Maseru, the nation's capital.

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Interviewed by South African broadcaster eNCA, Thabane said he had fled to an undisclosed location in South Africa. Thabane said this was not the first time in his political life that "he saw this kind of activity by the Lesotho army."

Thabane said he would return to Lesotho "as soon as I know I am not going to be killed." He told eNCA he didn't intend to resign.

Lesotho, landlocked within South Africa, has a population of almost two million people and covers an area smaller than the U.S. state of Maryland. Thabane has been prime minister since 2012 when he formed the kingdom's first coalition government. He suspended parliament in June just before an expected no-confidence vote was to be held.

A military spokesman said the army moved only to secure the country from elements that planned to destabilize it. The spokesman said military units moved into police stations and disarmed policemen after receiving intelligence reports police intended to arm civilian groups that were planning to mount a demonstration in support of Thabane. 

Captain Ntlele Ntoi, military spokesman, said police were collaborating with members of the All Basotho convention called "Under the Tree" (UTTA) and were planning to pass arms and ammunition to the group as it prepared for a big wekend rally.

Ntoi said the military was empowered to prevent terrorism, internal disorder and threats to essential services. South African media reported army troops surrounded the police headquarters and several police stations, also closing down local radio stations.

Foreign diplomats in Lesotho said that the army was mostly loyal to Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing, who had vowed to form a new coalition against Thabane.

Troops also were guarding the prime minister and the deputy prime minister's offices.

TagsPrime Minister Tom Thabane, Lesotho, South Africa, politics, military coup