Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom survived a close assassination attempt on Tuesday after a 15-year-old boy thwarted a young man's bid to knife the leader. 

According to emerging reports from the tiny island n the Indian Ocean, the young man wrapped the knife in a national flag and tried stabbing him before the 15-year-old grabbed the sharp weapon -- said to be a large kitchen knife-- from the accused.

Reports said the weapon had brushed past the President's shirt while the boy suffered serious injuries on his hand.

The alleged attacker had been taken into custody, reports said.