A man has set himself on fire in central Tunis, just hours before the country's legislators were to vote on a new government entrusted with pulling the country out of a deep political crisis.

Tuesday's gesture recalled the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, whose death ignited a revolt in the North African country that echoed across the Arab world.

"This is a young man who sells cigarettes because of unemployment," the man shouted before immolating himself on Habib Bourguiba avenue, according to a witness.

Security forces and bystanders tried to extinguish the flames before the man was rushed to hospital, witnesses said.

"His life is not in danger but he has third-degree burns to the head and the back," said an emergency services spokesman.

'Psychologically broken'

Officials named the man as 27-year-old Adel Khadri and said he hails from an extremely poor family in Jendouba in northwestern Tunisia.

Interior ministry spokesman Khaled Tarrouche attributed Khadri's desperate action to his economic situation.

"He is unemployed and came to Tunis a few months ago. He was very fragile, psychologically broken, and that is why he set himself on fire."

In December 2010, street vendor Bouazizi died of his injuries after setting himself alight on December 17, 2010 in the town of Sidi Bouzid after a policewoman confiscated his fruit cart.

Bouazizi's fate sparked protests that ended with the overthrow of autocratic President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and inspired rebellions elsewhere in the Middle East.

Economic and social difficulties were the key factors that brought down Ben Ali's regime and two years since his ouster unemployment and poverty continue to plague the North African country.

The simmering discontent has in the past few months sparked strikes and protests which often degenerate into violence.

Two members of a rap group, Sabrine Klibi and Mohamed Hedi Belgayed, were arrested on Monday for a music video insulting police. Their arrest provoked a strong reaction from activists.

Tunisia is also struggling to emerge from a political crisis exacerbated by the daylight murder on February 6 murder of Chokri Belaid, a leftist opposition leader.

Later on Tuesday, prime minister-designate Ali Larayedh was to seek a vote of confidence on his new cabinet line-up from legislators in the National Constituent Assembly.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/20133127575275965.html


Frustrated 27 year old jobless Tunisian man decides to set himself alight in protest of lack of employment.

It's either stupidity of bravery?...and I personally don't think it's the latter.

http://www.eventjara.com/blogs/news-features/item/unemployed-tunisian-man-sets-himself-ablaze

oops...
my man no be like that na---

.I dey here since yesterday i never see better food chop, my house rent dey expire next month but na only 1k dey my bank account and i no kill myself, one mumu were never see any suffering yet dey wan commit suicide

ha! ppl get mind o

A similar incident started the Arab spring but it appears that besides the change of govt, nothing really has changed. The promised paradise on earth remains an illusion. The same paradise on earth the APC is promising us in Nigeria.

Maybe we need another round of Arab Spring to usher in the elusive paradise on earth.

this is very common in the arab world... thats a bad idea,,, hell at stake

See person. Anyway frustration can lead to anything this days.

People are afriad of hell,while som re practicinq hell.Wen dey is life dere is hope,why wil a man roast himsef,he be suya? Life is sweet who die ni lose.I nor pity dis man at all.

If all d unemployed begin to set themselves ablaze,even the employed will become unemployed. #4naija

Taking ur own life never solves a problem,it will only lead T̶̲̥̅̊ø̲̣̣̥ worse predicament...gashing of teeth

Setting yourself on fire won't solve the problem ,that country has nothing but tourism no industries or major manufacturing company ,infact it is the African development back that Is sustaining them to a large extent .i just pity for the young men .

Nothing on earth is worth taking one's life for.
Try it in Nigeria, and see how onlookers will add fuel to make you burn faster.
You'd even start begging for help...

Sincere 9gerian: A similar incident started the Arab spring but it appears that besides the change of govt, nothing really has changed. The promised paradise on earth remains an illusion. The same paradise on earth the APC is promising us in Nigeria.

Maybe we need another round of Arab Spring to usher in the elusive paradise on earth.

people like u are one of the problems we have in this country

Sincere 9gerian: A similar incident started the Arab spring but it appears that besides the change of govt, nothing really has changed. The promised paradise on earth remains an illusion. The same paradise on earth the APC is promising us in Nigeria.

Maybe we need another round of Arab Spring to usher in the elusive paradise on earth.

Must you politicize everything?

if they had created a pageant for stupidity, this dude wouldn't have been jobless.

Na wa..there are less painful ways to commit suicide nah..simply drink poison and die peacefully. But burning urself up?? Oh dang....

He survived?

He just made his life a lot worse. By the time he recovers from that he'll understand why jumping off a bridge is usually the quicker option.

I wonder if setting himself ablaze would give him d job. And who would foot d hospital bill. These our Arab brothers and their thought about life. Well, hope he finally gets employed.

dis arabs madness...abi na another form of jihad....aboki fit do dis,such a lazy mallam...who owns his glory na devil....?

he try

Rubbish

kia see this guy, why can't he hustle or start selling or create a small business.

Oya wey fuel...i wan set this my jobless neighbour on fire

after all d protest and change in government, the status quo still remain d same. Na wo!

seledafti:
but wait ooo...I'm the first to comment among 1029417 members...
Thank you Jesus.

CONGRATS.... I guess if u'r employed, u won't be d first.

e no dey hard them for that side.

Na him sabi.