BAKU, July 30. /TASS/. Azerbaijani Prime Minister Novruz Mammadov saved a man’s life, by talking him out of committing suicide by jumping off a bridge in the country’s capital of Baku, the Azerbaijan Press Agency (APA) news agency reported, citing Cabinet Spokesman Akif Ali.

According to him, traffic towards the bridge had been curbed because of a man trying to commit suicide. Rescue workers and other personnel arrived on the scene, where traffic was being re-routed to another road.

"The incident was reported to Prime Minister Novruz Mammadov, who was on his way to his office at the time. He instructed his staff to drive him to the bridge," the spokesman said. The man trying to commit suicide was identified as Yashar Akhmedov, 49, who wanted to take his own life over a family dispute.

The prime minister was able to talk to Akhmedov on the phone to find out what the problem was. "Yashar Akhmedov told Novruz Mammadov that he had two children whose mother had taken them away somewhere and he couldn’t find them, this subsequently drove him to become suicidal. The prime minister talked him out of committing suicide and convinced him that relevant agencies would look into his problem and he would be provided with the necessary assistance," the government spokesman added.

Mammadov later received Akhmedov in his office. Following the meeting, the prime minister handed instructions to Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs to consider Akhmedov’s issue. The man was also given advice as to what agencies he should appeal to.

The prime minister said he would continue to monitor the issue himself.