Geneva  - A man of Tamil origin committed suicide outside the United Nations' Geneva office by setting himself on fire, UN officials confirmed Friday.

The incident took place the night before, they said. In terms of security, they felt it imposed no threat on the UN as it occurred outside the building.

Last week, thousands of Tamils gathered outside the UN to protest the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka and asking the world body for humanitarian assistance.

Several hundred people congregated late Friday on the spot where the man burned himself. (dpa)