Protester sets himself alight

An Iranian man set himself on fire in central London to demonstrate against the arrest of 165 of his compatriots in France.

A woman's screams rang out as flames 3ft high burst from refugee Heshmat Zandi's chest and shoulders.

He suffered burns to 40 per cent of his body after pouring petrol on his head and lighting it.

He was on fire for 20 seconds before a police officer managed to extinguish the flames.

Mr Zandi, 38, was protesting outside the French Embassy in Knightsbridge over the arrest in Paris of 165 members of the People's Mujahideen of Iran.

The opposition group has been accused of terrorism by the US and the EU.

Mr Zandi, who is studying to become a mechanical engineer, has lived in Borehamwood for six years after fleeing Iran.

He was taken to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where his condition was said to be serious but not life-threatening. Today he was having skin graft surgery.