Algerian burns himself to death after losing driver’s permit

An Algerian man has died after setting himself ablaze in protest when a policeman took away his driver’s license in the Mascara region, the El Watan Week-end newspaper reported Friday. The 36-year-old victim, named only by his initials A.A., had third-degree burns when he was admitted Wednesday to hospital in the city of Oran, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) west of Algiers. He died the following day. The man doused himself in fuel and set himself on fire to express his anger at a policeman who confiscated his driver’s license on witnessing "dangerous driving", El Watan said. Self-immolations have become regular in Algeria since January 2011 following protests at the cost of living which claimed five lives and left more than 800 people injured. One such case in neighboring Tunisia was the spark for the popular uprising that on January 14 last year toppled president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali from power after 23 years.