Lesotho’s military has seized and disarmed two police stations in the mountainous kingdom in an effort to secure the country, the defence force spokesman said.

Mystery surrounds reports today of a diamond twice the size of the world’s largest stone been unearthed by a small South African mining company with industry experts saying the claim still needs to be verified.

Ireland and Cyprus have joined forces to build a girls’ boarding school in Lesotho, it emerged today.

President Mary McAleese today headed off on an 11-day tour of southern Africa visiting Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania to check on Irish-funded aid projects.

U2 lead singer Bono began the second day of his ten-day tour of Africa today, where he plans to examine the achievements of his Make Poverty History campaign.