Self-immolations across north Africa follow suicide in Tunisia

[Joanne98]

After death of Muhammad Bouazizi, aggrieved citizens set themselves on fire in Egypt, Algeria and Mauritania

A spate of self-immolations in north Africa appears to have followed the suicide that helped bring down the Tunisian president last week.

An Egyptian, a Mauritanian and at least four Algerians have set themselves alight over the past five days as a means of protesting against their governments.

Demonstrations that brought down the Tunisian president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, followed the death of Muhammad Bouazizi, a 26-year-old vegetable seller who set himself on fire on 17 December after police seized his cart. Bouazizi died from his burns earlier this month, becoming a martyr to students and unemployed people protesting against poor living conditions.

An Egyptian who set himself on fire today is said to have done so to highlight poor living standards. A witness working at the parliament building in central Cairo said the man doused himself with fuel and lit it when people approached. The flames were put out and he was taken to hospital, the witness added.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/17/self-immolation-protests-north-africa