Tunisian sets himself ablaze in new self-immolation incident

Jan 6, 2011, 13:26 GMT

Tunis - A high school student suffered servere burns after setting himself ablaze in an act imitating Mohamed Bouazizi, who died earlier this week after setting himself on fire in protest against unemployment, official sources said on Thursday.

Bouazizi's act in the town of Sidi Bouzid sparked a wave of unrest as people demonstrated against high living costs and joblessness in Tunisia, turning him into a symbol in the fight against unemployment.

The new self-immolation incident took place as thousands of protesters had gathered for Bouazizi's burial on Wednesday in Sidi Bouzid. He died of the self-inflicted burn wounds earlier this week.

The student, 17-year-old Ayoub al-Hamidi, set fire to himself in his school principal's office Wednesday in Aryana, north of Tunis.

Al-Hamidi was taken to hospital with severe burn wounds.

He had been summoned to the principal's office for allegedly planning to burn down school offices after the school prevented a group of students from organising a march in solidarity with Bouazizi's funeral gathering.

An estimated 5,000 people marched in Bouazizi's funeral procession, expressing anger about unemployment and living costs.

Some chanted 'Mohamed, we weep for you today, we will make those who caused your death weep.'

Bouazizi, who sold vegetables on the street for a living, was forced by police to stop his business because he did not have a proper permit.

In protest, he doused himself with petrol and set himself on fire.

Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali dismissed three government ministers and the governor of Sidi Bouzid in an attempt to restore calm to the country.

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