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Thomas Thabane

MASERU. – Lesotho’s new prime minister has taken the oath of office, returning to power three years after he fled the politically unstable southern African kingdom because of fears that he was an assassination target. South Africa’s deputy president and other foreign dignitaries yesterday attended the inauguration of Thomas Thabane, whose estranged wife was shot dead on Wednesday in what many Thabane supporters believe was an effort to intimidate the new governing coalition.

The development created confusion ahead of the handover of power.

Samonyane Ntsekele, the secretary general of Thabane’s All Basotho Convention (ABC) party, said the prime minister-elect was devastated by the shooting. – News24/AP.