Chilean 'blaze man' dies

A hospital in Chile has said a man who set himself ablaze in front of the presidential palace in an apparent protest over the misuse of asbestos has died.

Eduardo Mino set himself alight on Friday after stabbing himself in the stomach and dousing himself with petrol.

News organizations said they had received faxes signed by Mr Mino in which the sender said the protest was calling attention to the cases of hundreds of people who had become ill through contact with asbestos.

The letter blamed a Chilean construction company for the illnesses of workers and their families, as well as those of residents who live near one of the company's installations.

Government spokesman Claudio Haupe said Chile had banned the use of asbestos in July. The spokesman said the government had never received a formal complaint from Mr Mino.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service