A palace statement carried by the official SPA news agency confirmed that Ben Ali arrived early Saturday in the kingdom after fleeing Tunisia on Friday in a dramatic end to his 23 years in power following deadly protests.

"Out of concern for the exceptional circumstances facing the brotherly Tunisian people and in support of the security and stability of their country... the Saudi government has welcomed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family to the kingdom," the statement said.

A Saudi source said earlier that Ben Ali's plane had landed in the Red Sea city of Jeddah but did not specify who had accompanied him to the ultra-conservative Saudi kingdom.