German burns BMW in fuel protest

Fuel prices in Germany - as elsewhere - have been rising steadily

An unemployed German man has set his car on fire in protest at rising fuel prices, police say.

He drove the black 1995 BMW 3-Series car onto grass near a Frankfurt conference centre, emptied petrol over it and set it alight.

By the time the fire service got there, the car was burnt out.

There have been demonstrations across the world against rising fuel prices. The price of oil is trading at record levels of over $140 (£70).

"The Bavarian... said he carried out the act because he was unemployed and could no longer afford a car due to the high cost of fuel," police said in a statement.

He was released without charge but could still face charges for breaching Germany's pollution laws.

Global protests

The price of crude oil has surged amid concerns about the ability of producer nations to meet demand.

In recent weeks, protesters have jammed motorways in the UK, while fishermen in Devon used an annual trawler race to protest against escalating petrol costs.

In Nepal, a one-day strike shut down much of the capital Kathmandu on Thursday.