Protesting man sets self ablaze in Calgary

CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- An unidentified 40-year-old man was recovering from serious burns Friday, a day after setting himself on fire in the western Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.

Passing paramedics spotted the man burning and extinguished him at 10 a.m. Thursday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Witnesses told the broadcaster the man had been carrying a placard outside the building that houses a Canada Border Services Agency office, and that he apparently was shouting about his pending deportation.

Witnesses also said two people with video cameras were close to him and recording the torching, but they fled when rescuers appeared, the CBC said.

The man was hospitalized with second degree burns to 40 percent of his body, including his back, face, hands and legs, the Calgary Sun reported.

Police said they closed their investigation and offered no details, while the border agency declined to comment if there was a link to its office, the CBC said.