The statement said nine South Africans were killed and 17 were wounded, and about 40 dissident Lesotho Defence Force members were killed.

South African government ministers have said Pretoria and Botswana responded today to an appeal for help from Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, who said he had lost control of the army.

The casualties were the first suffered by South Africa's defence force since white rule ended in 1994 and Nelson Mandela became the country's first black president.

The South African statement said the combined task force faced fierce resistance at two military bases held by dissidents demanding the resignation of Mosisili's government.

``Our forces have suffered heavy losses as a result of the aggressive resistance they have encountered to date, and now have no alternative but to make more use of the force available,'' the statement said.

The troop mobilisation on Tuesday capped weeks of unrest by opposition demonstrators which has paralysed the government of this tiny mountain kingdom surrounded by South Africa. The opposition charges may elections swept by the Lesotho Congress Party were rigged.

Some 600 troops, at the request of the prime minister of this tiny mountain kingdom, entered at 5 am local time, the South African Press Association said on Tuesday, quoting a government statement.

A faction of the army rebelled eleven days ago, deposing the leadership -- apparently loyal to the government -- and the new commanders had refrained from restoring order in the streets.