An emergency Southern African Development Community meeting held in Pretoria last night resolved to restore law and order in Lesotho "as soon as possible".
The Double Troika Plus Two Meeting - attended by President Jacob Zuma and SADC chair and Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, among others - was called as a deadline set two weeks ago to reconvene Lesotho's parliament loomed without a sign of the crisis being resolved.
Lesotho prime minister Tom Thabane, attending yesterday's meeting with his deputy Mothetjoa Metsing and Thesele Maseribane, the third member of the coalition government, has been given until Friday to reconvene parliament.
Thabane dissolved parliament ahead of a planned vote of no confidence in him by Metsing and Maseribane.
Last week Zuma went to Lesotho to meet the coalition to urge a final resolution to the crisis.
The crisis saw former army chief Tlali Kamoli usurp power, attack police stations and seize weapons, forcing Thabane and members of his government to flee to South Africa.
Before the closed meeting last night, Zuma said the leaders were "optimistic" about the outcome, "because we want Lesotho back to normalcy as soon as possible, as does everyone else.
"We are confident this summit will help us move forward. Matters from previous meetings will be addressed and reports on security will be discussed."
Thabane has said that until the security situation is resolved - with foreign forces leaving the country - parliament cannot be reconvened.
South African and Zimbabwean police have provided security for Thabane and other officials since the coup, with Namibia also pledging 20 officers.
Delegates at last night's meeting said Kamoli had been offered two years' salary and a diplomatic post to end his insurrection, and he was inclined to accept.
One delegate said South African interests, including Katse Dam, which provides water to Gauteng, were not under threat.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
