A 24-year-old man stabbed himself in front of the White House yesterday after walking up to a uniformed guard and announcing that he was "immortal," the U.S. Secret Service reported.

Spokeswoman Jane Vezeris said the man, whose identity was not released, stabbed himself with a knife shortly after 5 p.m. on the sidewalk near the northwest gate

The man, who suffered a single wound in the abdomen, underwent surgery at George Washington University Hospital last night and was reported in stable condition by officials there.

Vezeris said that about 5 p.m., the man walked up to the northwest gate on Pennsylvania Avenue and approached a uniformed Secret Service canine team.

She said the man "walked up to the officer and said, 'I am immortal,' and he stabbed himself."