Pussy Riot members flee Russia

Two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot who were being sought by police have fled the country. the band says.

Five members of the feminist group took part in a provocative performance inside Moscow's main cathedral in February to protest at Vladimir Putin's rule and his relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church.

The women wore their trademark balaclavas and only three were identified and arrested. After a controversial trial, they were sentenced on August 17 to two years in prison.

Days later, Moscow police said they were searching for the others, in what was seen as a warning to the group to stop its anti-Putin protests.

Pussy Riot tweeted that the two activists had fled Russia and are "recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new protest actions".