Mauritanian man sets himself ablaze in capital

[Joanne98]

Source: AP

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) — An official says a Mauritanian man set himself on fire, the third self-immolation attempt apparently influenced by a man in Tunisia.

Local journalists say 43-year-old Yacoub Ould Dahoud said he was unhappy with the government. Witnesses say he drove to a government building in the capital and torched himself in his car.

Foreign ministry official Adbou Ould Sidi says police rushed him to the hospital.

The attempt follows similar incidents, including one in Algeria. Also Monday, an Egyptian man set himself on fire in an apparent protest.

Monday's incidents appeared to be attempts to copy the fatal self-immolation last month of an unemployed Tunisian man. That event triggered the protests that led to the ouster of Tunisia's authoritarian president.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iKXN1ZN3SS8LoK9Kz-0Eb_jPgk-Q?docId=bf0a61839db345c387e71f11b09f166c

[quakerboy]

1. Interesting contrast. nt

[Art_from_Ark]

2. Mauritania's government was overthrown in a military coup

in 2008. Coup leaders promised a return to civilian rule but I don't know if they have delivered on that promise.

[Catherina]

3. Interesting. Rec'd. Not sure why this was unrec'd n/t

[pam4water]

4. Buddhist monks were doing that in Vietnam before the war.

[ellisonz]

5. Norman Morrison

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Morrison