Ex-president's family flees Maldives

The family of deposed Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed has fled the country and sought refuge in Sri Lanka following unrest, a media report said.

Nasheed's wife Laila Ali arrived here Wednesday night, reported the Sunday Leader, without saying who else was accompanying her.

She spoke to President Mahinda Rajapaksa over telephone after her arrival, the newspaper's website reported.Rajapaksa then telephoned new Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed and urged him to ensure the safety of Nasheed.

Waheed assured Rajapaksa that no harm will come to Nasheed, it quoted sources in the president’s office as saying.