LOS ANGELES A rifle-wielding man held up freeway traffic for miles Thursday as he protested a health care administration system known as HMOS before fatally shooting himself on live television. HMOS are in it for the money! Live free. Love safe or die, read the banner of the man who ensnared tens of thousands of motorists during his 50-minute drama that ended when he shot himself in the head after his truck burst into flames.

The man has not been identified but the Los Angeles Police Department described him as in his twenties or thirties. He first got their attention when he began pointing his rifle at passing motorists. During the standoff, he spoke to authorities from his cellular telephone, petted his dog inside the cab of his truck, made occasional obscene gestures and drank from a container.

He made no statement regarding the truck or his intentions, said Lieutenant Hans Ruth. He was just rambling. He mentioned he was unhappy about HMOS. HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization. The police sent in snipers in case he began shooting or decided to bolt, but throughout the ordeal his demeanor appeared calm. At one point, he waved a video cassette at a news station helicopter that hovered overhead.

Police had planned to talk him into peacefully surrendering but did not get the chance. He was in the truck when the cab became engulfed in flames and he jumped out and ran toward the rear of the vehicle, frantically peeling off his pants, underclothes and socks, which were also on fire. He walked to the edge of the freeway and appeared to be ready to jump.

Instead, he walked back to the truck, retrieved his rifle and shot himself as television cameras rolled. The dog is believed to have died in the burning truck. Even after the man lay motionless, Ruth said police did not approach the truck. Instead, they waited for the bomb squad after they spotted what appeared to be bottled gasoline bombs. (AFP)