Fiery end to licence row

ALGIERS, Algeria - A man in Algiers has died after setting himself ablaze to protest against a policeman confiscating his driving licence.

The 36-year-old, named only by his initials AA, suffered third-degree burns when he was admitted to hospital in the city of Oran, 360km west of Algiers. He died the following day.

DANGEROUS DRIVING

The man doused himself with fuel and set himself on fire to express his anger over having his licence taken away due to dangerous driving, the El Watan newspaper reported.

Self-immolations have become frequent in Algeria since January 2011 and have claimed five lives and left more than 800 people injured.

One such case in neighbouring Tunisia in 2011, sparked an uprising which toppled president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali who had been in power for 23 years.