Rome, December 15 (RHC)-- An Italian man, apparently suffering from financial problems, has set himself on fire in front of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's home in northern Italy. The 30-year-old man doused his clothes with gasoline on Monday and set himself on fire outside the gates of Berlusconi's luxurious villa near the city of Milan.

Police on duty in front of the villa put out the flames and called for a helicopter rescue. The Italian, named as Claudio Usala, is reportedly in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Italian media reported that the man had been seen hanging around outside the mansion on Sunday night. It was not immediately clear why the man, a resident of the island of Sardinia, chose to set himself ablaze in front of the four-time Italian prime minister's home.

La Repubblica newspaper's website said Usala had told police officials that he was desperate because a bank had withdrawn a credit line for his advertising firm, located in the city of Cagliari with 12 employees, putting his business in jeopardy.