S. Korean Man Kills Himself at WTO Protests

[Character Assassin]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030910/ts_nm/trade_wto_death_dc_1

S. Korean Man Kills Himself at WTO Protests

CANCUN, Mexico (Reuters) - A South Korean activist stabbed himself and died on Wednesday in violent anti-capitalism protests at a World Trade Organization (news - web sites) meeting in Mexico's Caribbean beach resort of Cancun.

Reporters saw the man climb up onto a high security fence and wave a banner that read "WTO Kills Farmers." He then stabbed himself in the chest.

The South Korean man, in his 50s, was carried away and treated for his injuries but later died in hospital. One of his friends said it was an "act of sacrifice" to show his disgust at the WTO and its policies.

Mexico's foreign minister Luis Ernesto Derbez, who is hosting the WTO meeting, said the man had died from a self-inflicted wound.

The anti-globalization protests turned violent when a group of about two dozen activists broke through a metal barrier and attacked Mexican riot police.