Egyptian man dies of self-immolation

Real Independent Alternative Breaking World News An unemployed Egyptian man has died in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria after setting himself on fire, reportedly to protest rampant joblessness in the country.

Ahmed Hashem Al Sayed, 25, died in the hospital on Tuesday for burns he suffered after setting himself ablaze on the roof of his house in a second suicide attempt, The Los Angeles Times reported.

"My son worked as a builder for 10 Egyptian pounds [less than $2] a day, but he wasn't able to find steady work. He got depressed after realizing that he is 25 and is yet to afford getting married," Ahmed's mother told independent news website Al Youm Al Sabee.

He had cut his wrist veins using a razor in the first suicide attempt when he failed to find work due to lack of education.

On Tuesday, two other Egyptian men that were inspired by events in Tunisia attempted to set themselves on fire in downtown Cairo.

In another incident, a 50-year-old man set himself on fire in front of the Egyptian parliament on Monday to protest the country's economic situation and the high living costs. He is being treated for first-degree burns.

Both incidents coincide with four recent suicide attempts in Algeria and one in Mauritania, all motivated by high unemployment rates.

Self-immolation attempts have spread across North African countries after an attempt by an unemployed Tunisian man to set himself on fire sparked an uprising that ended the 23-year rule of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.