MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — The Nicaraguan government says it has given political asylum to former El Salvador President Mauricio Funes.

The announcement came Tuesday in the government's official Daily Gazette. It argues that Funes' life and physical integrity are in danger and says the ex-president's family was also granted asylum.

Funes was president from 2009 to 2014 as a member of the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front party.

Recently he has faced a civil legal case in El Salvador over purported illicit enrichment as well as an investigation related to corruption during his government.