Mali's ex-president flees to Senegal

A Senegalese official said ousted Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure and members of his family have fled their home country. Toure and "his entire family" arrived in Senegal from Mali, the BBC reports. He was said to be in hiding in the Senegalese Embassy in Mali earlier this week. Nearly two dozen of Toure's allies were arrested this month following a military coup. Many of them were released this week, the BBC reports. Military leaders in Mali handed power to interim President Dioncounda Traore and Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra. Both leaders have pledged to organize elections and to end a rebellion in the north of the country. Military leaders seized control of the country because they were frustrated with Toure's inability to control rebels in the north of the country, who've since claimed autonomy for the region. International humanitarian agencies and the United Nations have warned of the threat to civilians in the region. The security situation is complicated by lingering drought in West Africa. Toure resigned April 8.