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Man Truatmanka apparently set himself on fire to demand the resignation of parliament speaker, Yongyut Tiyapairat (above), after Mr Tiyapairat was charged with bribery. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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BANGKOK - A THAI activist who set himself on fire, reportedly to demand the resignation of parliament speaker Yongyut Tiyapairat, has died after suffering burns over most his body, a hospital said on Saturday.
Man Truatmanka, 44, doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire early Friday outside Thailand's parliament building. A security guard helped extinguish the fire, and Mr Man was taken to hospital.
An official at Vajira hospital in Bangkok said Mr Man died late Friday night.
Security guards at parliament said they had regularly seen Mr Man during political protests. His family said that he suffered from mental problems, the hospital official said.
Thai media reported that Mr Man burned himself to demand Yongyut's resignation after the speaker was charged with bribing local officials in northern Thailand to campaign for the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in elections in December.
Yongyut has denied the charges against him. -- AFP
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