AMMAN — A 51-year-old former employee of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), who allegedly set himself on fire in downtown Amman on Monday, was in hospital in critical condition last night, official sources said.

The victim, who was not identified by officials, reportedly set himself ablaze in the downtown area yesterday afternoon and bystanders and shop owners rushed to extinguish the flames with clothes from nearby shops, Public Security Department Spokesperson Lt. Col. Mohammad Khatib said.

The police official added that a Civil Defence Department ambulance rushed him to Al Bashir Hospital, where he was admitted to the burn unit.

A medical source said the man sustained burns to 80 per cent of his body and that his condition is critical.

"His chances of survival are slim since the burns cover most of his body and most probably he will suffer from blood poisoning," the source added.

Khatib said police were unable to question the man because of his condition to determine why he set himself ablaze.

Later on Monday, GAM issued a statement saying that the man was sent into retirement in July 2010 and was offered around JD8,000 in compensation.

The statement added that in December 2011, he visited GAM and requested a JD30,000 housing loan "because of the economic hardship he was suffering".

"GAM examined his request and decided to offer him the JD30,000 loan for humanitarian reasons, although there were other employees who had submitted applications before him," the GAM statement added.