An Iranian man set himself on fire outside the French embassy in the British capital of London Tuesday in protest at a major crackdown in France on the leading Iranian armed opposition group, the People's Mujahedeen.
British emergency services said the man was taken to hospital with 40 percent burns, where his condition was considered to be serious, however not life-threatening, according to police officials.
The 38-year-old is believed to have doused himself in petrol and ignited it.
Laila Jazayeri, a supporter of the People's Mujahedeen who participated in the demonstration was quoted by AFP as saying, "This Iranian man has set his life on fire to tell the world to condemn the actions of the French police and French government.
"The arrests come just when in Iran we are witnessing demonstrations by students who are saying no to the regime there."
French police on Tuesday launched a major crackdown on the leading Iranian armed opposition group, the People's Mujahedeen, detaining over 150 people and seizing up to seven million dollars in a series of dawn raids in the Paris region. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
