Lesotho ruling party leading vote count

Turn-out was more than 70%

Results are slowly coming in following Saturday's general election in the southern African state of Lesotho.

The ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) seems set for another huge majority, having won 29 of the 30 constituencies announced so far.

They have to do it slowly because nobody trusts anybody else

Roger Southall
Political analyst

The other seat went to the main opposition, the Basotho National Party (BNP).

In the last parliamentary poll four years ago, the LCD won a massive landslide, but the BNP refused to accept the result and months of political crisis ensued.

A new electoral system was used this time which was intended to produce a more representative parliament.

In addition to 80 seats elected on a first-past-the-post basis, 40 seats will be allocated according to the share of votes each party receives nationally.

Instability

"They have to do it slowly because nobody trusts anybody else," said Roger Southall of the Pretoria-based Human Sciences Research Council.

Many people expected Lesotho's general election to be close, but as the results trickle in from around the country, the BBC's Richard Lee in Maseru says it is becoming increasingly clear that the ruling LCD is heading for another comprehensive victory.

Masera Hlaele, 95, prefers the rule of chiefs to politicians

The main opposition parties had talked confidently of unseating the LCD, and everyone is now anxiously awaiting their official reaction.

Turn-out was high, with more than 70% of the 830,000 registered voters, casting their ballots, according to the Lesotho Independent Electoral Commission.

Lesotho experienced months of instability following the 1998 poll, which culminated in a military intervention by troops from South Africa and Botswana.

Elections 'fair'

This year, all the parties signed an electoral code of conduct committing themselves to respect the results.

People are concerned that the political chaos of 1998 should not be repeated

But our correspondent says that people in Lesotho fear that opposition leaders might still cry foul, sparking yet more political turmoil.

However, if they do, they are unlikely to receive any support from international observers.

Indeed, one group, including delegations from Japan, Europe and the United States, has already issued a statement declaring that the election was free, fair and transparent.