An Egyptian citizen set himself on fire in front of the Presidential Palace in Cairo where the newly-elected President Mohammed Morsi resides, state-run Al-Ahram reported on Saturday.

The man, who was identified as Arafa Kamel Khalil, was fired from the company he worked for following a quarrel with his employer, the chairman of the Assiut branch of the state-run Middle Egypt Electrical Distribution.

According to reports, the head of the company declined to rehire the 40-year-old despite a court ordered to do so.

Security forces present a the scene hurried to extinguish the flames. The man was rushed to hospital to receive treatment.