Man critical after self-immolating

TUNIS, Tunisia, March 12 (UPI) -- A 27-year-old Tunisian man is in critical condition with third-degree burns on 90 percent of his body after setting himself on fire, officials said.

The man, who hospital officials refused to identify himself, was taken to the Hospital of Injuries and Severe Burns in Ben Arous, a suburb of Tunis, Tunisia Live reported Tuesday.

Twitter sources said the man is Adel Khedhri of Jendouba, Tunisia Live reported.

Witnesses said the young man stood at the top of the stairs leading to the Municipal Theater in downtown Tunis and said: "This is the youth. This is joblessness." The man then lit himself on fire using a cigarette lighter, the news website reported.

Nearby police extinguished the fire.