Obama administration officials are monitoring developments in Lesotho following reports that the army staged a coup in the south African country.

{mosads}“The United States is deeply concerned by clashes between security forces today in Lesotho, and calls upon government officials and all parties to remain committed to peaceful political dialogue and to follow democratic processes in line with the Lesotho Constitution and principles of the rule of law,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement late Saturday.

Reuters on Sunday quoted a minister as saying the country’s deputy prime minister, Mothetjoa Metsing, took charge of the government after Prime Minister Thomas Thabane fled to South Africa.

The army surrounded Thabane’s residence and police stations in Maseru, the country’s capital, on Saturday, the news service reported, adding that one police officer was shot dead and four others were wounded in the confrontation.