Tunisian man dies after setting self on fire in unemployment protest
By Saad Abedine and Holly Yan, CNN
March 13, 2013 -- Updated 1403 GMT (2203 HKT)
Tunisian paramedics rush to carry Adel Khadri, a cigarette vendor who immolated himself in Tunis on March 12, 2013.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The self-immolation of Adel Khodri, 27, is similar to that of Mohamed Bouazizi
- Bouazizi was credited for launching the Arab Spring protests with his fatal protest
- Khodri's death comes as the National Constituent Assembly votes on a new government
(CNN) -- A 27-year-old Tunisian man who set himself on fire to protest unemployment has died, officials said Wednesday.
Adel Khodri succumbed to his wounds early Wednesday morning, a day after he set himself ablaze, Tunisia's national civil protection and defense authorities said.
His fate parallels the iconic death of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor who set himself on fire in December 2010.
Bouazizi's death was widely credited for spurring Arab Spring uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East.
The fruit vendor's fatal protest unleashed a wave of regional dissent against oppression, government corruption and stifled freedoms.
Self-immolation has since become more common in the Arab world, with people setting themselves on fire in Tunisia, Jordan, Bahrain and Morocco.
Although Tunisia has toppled a longtime ruler and held historic elections since Bouazizi's death, the country is still mired in political unrest.
Khodri died the same day Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly is set to vote on a new government.
In a speech before Wednesday's vote, Prime Minster-designate Ali Larayedh explained a series of proposals for the new government, the country's official news agency TAP said.
Larayedh vowed to protect against excessive inflation, develop the economy, fight crime and boost development.
Part of complete coverage on
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 1759 GMT (0159 HKT)
50 years after JFK's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech, one expert says Barack Obama visits Berlin at a desperately crucial time.
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 1231 GMT (2031 HKT)
In a country caricatured for its deification of soccer, the World Cup, Confederations Cup and FIFA have become symbols of corruption and waste.
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 0059 GMT (0859 HKT)
A man who silently stood in Taksim Square and stared at a portrait of the founder of the modern Turkish state, drew hundreds to his vigil.
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 1726 GMT (0126 HKT)
As Afghan forces formally take over security of the country, what is likely to be on the table when the U.S. and the Taliban meet for talks?
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 0854 GMT (1654 HKT)
North Korea's recent belligerence has many in China, its lone ally, saying enough is enough. But would Beijing really cut Kim Jong Un off?
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 1047 GMT (1847 HKT)
Whether you've a vague fear of Big Brother or a desire to keep your bank information private, there are ways of securing your data.
Among the intriguing pieces of history in Chinese coastal province Fujian are the tulou: large, round, rammed-earth buildings dating back centuries.
June 18, 2013 -- Updated 1539 GMT (2339 HKT)
NYU did a great favor not only for the Chinese dissident but also for both the U.S. and Chinese governments, writes James Millward.
June 18, 2013 -- Updated 0314 GMT (1114 HKT)
Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden is laying low, but that's becoming increasingly difficult. CNN's Ian Lee reports.
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 1111 GMT (1911 HKT)
Tired of seeing developed nations take the lion's share of profits from his country's coffee crop, this businessman decided on a new plan.
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 1322 GMT (2122 HKT)
There's a new menace lurking in the streets of London -- exploding sidewalks, which have injured at least 5 people.
June 13, 2013 -- Updated 1040 GMT (1840 HKT)
Scenes of violent clashes between protesters and police may make visitors to Istanbul think twice. Is it time to cancel your trip?
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 0936 GMT (1736 HKT)
Who has been voted the world's best airline by passengers at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards?
Today's five most popular stories