Sri Lanka's president fled the country early Wednesday, slipping away only hours before he promised to step down under pressure from protesters angry over economic chaos that has triggered severe shortages of food and fuel.
But the crisis that has gripped the island nation for months was far from over: Thousands of protesters demanding that the prime minister also resign rallied outside his office and some stormed the compound, as they have other official buildings in recent days. The prime minister declared a nationwide state of emergency, The Associated Press said.
