South Africa's Deputy President Thabo Mbeki said Lesotho's current government would stay in power until the new polls.

His announcement followed talks between Lesotho's government and opposition alliance to resolve the political crisis that led to riots last month.

But opposition coalition spokeswoman Mamelo Morrison immediately accused Mr Mbeki of lying.

South African President Nelson Mandela, with King Letsie III of Lesotho

"What your deputy president said was a lie," the South African Press Association quoted Ms Morrison as saying.

"We have not come anywhere near agreement. This has just put the whole negotiations into chaos."

The opposition said it had not agreed to the current government remaining in power until the election.

Other issues which had to be addressed included the withdrawal of South African and Botswanan troops sent to quell the riots.

Friday's talks in Pretoria were mediated by South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique.

Mosisili won't share power

Lesotho's opposition, which claims the last polls in May were rigged, wants the establishment of a government of national unity and fresh elections.

Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's Lesotho Congress Party controls 79 of the 80 seats in Parliament, though it only won 61% of the vote.

On Thursday he declared he would not share political power, as the opposition groups have demanded.

A regional commission has said the poll result in May should not be overturned despite finding some irregularities.

South Africa, which completely surrounds Lesotho, sent troops in to the kingdom on 22 September when protests about the election turned violent.

But the intervention - which provoked widespread hostility in Lesotho - has been criticised by other states in the region, and by many South Africans.

Nearly 100 people, including 67 soldiers from the two countries, died in the fighting, and the capital, Maseru, was all but destroyed by looting and fires.

South African troops to stay, says Mbeki

In his television address in South Africa, Mr Mbeki announced: "This important agreement lays a firm basis for the return of Lesotho to normality.

He added that the Independent Electoral Commission would be reconstituted and strengthened to ensure the elections ''were free and fair''.

Mr Mbeki said the troops which entered Lesotho on behalf of the Southern African Development Community would remain in the kingdom until its own security forces could resume their role.