Three men set themselves on fire in downtown Beijing today, Xinhua news agency said, quoting a Beijing government spokesman.

The three ignited the fire in their car at 8 a.m. (Malta time) at the intersection of Chang'an Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare, and Wangfujing, a high-end shopping street, Xinhua said.

Their condition was not immediately known, the spokesman said.

Today marks the Tibetan New Year, although it was not immediately clear whether the incident was related to the holiday.