South Africa says it's withdrawing six hundred and fifty of its troops sent to Lesotho following an army mutiny in September.

It follows an earlier troop reduction in November.

But a senior officer of the joint South African and Botswanan military force in Lesotho told the BBC it was still too early for a full withdrawal.

He said more than one thousand South African and Botswanan troops would remain in Lesotho for the time being -- to ensure law and order.