BBC News Online: World: Africa

Lesotho parliament dissolved for elections

The King of Lesotho, Letsie the Third, has dissolved parliament ahead of general elections due in late May.

Six political parties are reported to be contesting the elections, which will be run for the first time by an independent electoral commission.

Correspondents say the elections are likely to be closely fought, after the ruling Lesotho Congress of Democracy broke away last year from the Basotho Congress Party, which won a landslide victory in the 1993 elections.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service