LESOTHO: Sweeping Out The Sweeper

Those who are swept into power by military coup sometimes find themselves swept out the same way. Take Major General Justin Lekhanya of Lesotho, a former policeman who seized control of the small African country in 1986. Last week rebellious army officers marched him to a radio station in the capital of Maseru, forced him to read a resignation speech and then replaced him with Colonel Elias Ramaema.

Although Lekhanya had pledged to bring civilian rule to the landlocked mountainous country of 1.5 million by 1992, the six-man Military Council had made few preparations. Lekhanya also came under increasing criticism for having shot a college student in 1988, despite having been cleared of the killing in an inquest. A strike last week among some military units for higher wages finally helped whisk him out of power.