Taiwan debt evader, aged 90, sets himself on fire in Beijing

2010-02-24 12:41:46 GMT2010-02-24 20:41:46 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English

BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A 90-year-old man from Taiwan set himself on fire in downtown Beijing Wednesday after a dispute over money with his clansmen, police said.

The old man ignited his clothes with a burning newspaper at around 12:30 p.m. near the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council in Xuanwu District. The fire was quickly extinguished by policemen on patrol nearby.

Police said the fire did little harm to the old man.

A witness told Xinhua on condition of anonymity the old man carried leaflets which said his clansmen had demanded he pay his debt.

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