Boy scout may be honoured for saving president from assassination

The government of the Maldives is to discuss awarding a national honour to a 15-year-old boy scout who foiled an assassination attempt on the islands' president, an official said today.

Mohammed Jaisham Ibrahim instantly became a household name after grabbing a knife from a man who jumped out of a crowd of well-wishers and lunged at President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom yesterday.

The teenager suffered wounds to his hand in the scuffle.

"The Cabinet will discuss it and it's a lengthy process," government spokesman Mohammed Shareef said by telephone from the capital, Male.

Mr Gayoom was not hurt in the incident, but his shirt was ripped as the attacker tried a second time to stab him before being overpowered by security guards, Mr Shareef added.