Spanish woman sets herself on fire in bank

Madrid, Feb 19 (AP) Authorities say a Spanish woman walked into a bank branch in a small eastern city, doused herself with flammable liquid and set herself ablaze. A regional government statement citing police in Almassora says the woman was taken by helicopter to be treated in Valencia for burns that Spanish media reported covered nearly half of her body. Authorities did not give a reason for why the woman decided to set herself on fire yesterday. But Spain is in financial crisis, and banks are being blamed for a wave of mortgage foreclosures, homeowner evictions and at least five mortgage default-related suicides in recent months. Outcry over the evictions and suicides has prompted the ruling party to agree to debate possible mortgage default law changes in Parliament. (AP) AAH 02190405 NNNN