Maseru -

Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili Tuesday sacked two ministers and a deputy minister amid divisions within the ruling party ahead of polls expected later this year.

The sacked cabinet members are Mothetjoa Metsing, who held the communications portfolio, Motloheloa Phooko, a minister in the prime minister's office and Khotso Matla, junior minister for trade and industry.

A statement from Mosisili's office said “the decision has been accepted by His Majesty King Letsie III”.

Lesotho's ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy has been riven by divisions over the last two years, with a faction allegedly led by Metsing looking to topple Mosisili, who has been in power since 1998.

In October 2011 Mosisili fired the minister of trade and industry during a cabinet reshuffle.

The small mountainous kingdom enclaved in South Africa is still battling to resolve a political tensions over the allocation of parliamentary seats following after a disputed 2007 vote. - Sapa-AFP