"The culprits managed to hurt the arm of the minister who was immediately rushed to the hospital where he is reported to be recovering well," a police statement said. Police said the gunmen, who had apparently staked out Moleleki's house awaiting his arrival, fled and that no arrests had been made.
Police did not suggest any motive for the attack, but local media suggested it may have been political. Moleleki had been attending the weekend national conference of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), which has been beset by tensions over the succession issue amid hints that Mosisili may seek to run for an unprecedented third term in the 2007 general elections despite some opposition within the party.
Lesotho has experienced previous bouts of political instability including a 1998 army mutiny after the LCD won general elections that year amid allegations of vote rigging. Widespread looting and rioting eventually prompted a South African-led military intervention.