Media accused of distorting SANDF Lesotho operation

PRETORIA -- SA National Defence Force chief General Siphiwe Nyanda yesterday accused the media of ignoring the successes of South Africa's recent military incursion into Lesotho and focusing on its failures instead.

Gen Nyanda said journalists had grossly distorted a report about Oper- ation Boleas given by the SANDF to Parliament's foreign affairs and defence portfolio committees on Monday.

"I was shocked to read the news version of what transpired at the briefing," Gen Nyanda said. "What I read bore no resemblance to the report we gave. It was a gross distortion of it.

He described South Africa's participation in an SADC attempt to restore peace to Lesotho as an unqualified military success.

"The briefing clearly informed Parliament that the operation was a success -- that anarchy was suppressed and the basis for constitutional order created." -- Sapa