(CNN) -- The popular protests in Tunisia that have caused upheaval in the government were sparked by Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old unemployed college graduate, who set himself on fire in protest. He later died. Now, reports are coming in from other countries in the region -- Egypt, Algeria, and Mauritania -- that other demonstrators are turning to self-immolation. In Egypt, Abdo Abelmonem Gafr, a baker from a town outside Cairo, set himself on fire outside the parliament building in the capital on Monday, an Interior Ministry official said. Gafr has burns to his face but is alive and not badly hurt, ministry spokesman Alla Mahmood said. A police officer put the fire out. Gafr's motives and his age were not immediately known.
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NEW: Mauritanian media say man praised Bouazizi on Facebook
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Reports of self-immolation have come in from four countries
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Foreignpolicy.com writer calls it Arab world's "horrific new trend"
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Study found unemployment a risk factor
Much like in @placeholder, Algerians are frustrated over the economy, rising food prices and what they feel is a government that's not responding to their needs.