WUNRN
YEMEN - WOMEN BURN VEILS TO STOP
CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTS
"The
act of women burning their clothing is a symbolic Bedouin tribal gesture
signifying an appeal for help to tribesmen, in this case to stop the attacks on
the protesters."
Yemeni women burn their veils during a demonstration demanding the
resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh in
October 26, 2011 - AP - SANAA,
In the capital Sanaa, the women spread a black cloth across a main street and threw their full-body veils, known as makrama, onto a pile, sprayed it with oil and set it ablaze. As the flames rose, they chanted: "Who protects Yemeni women from the crimes of the thugs?"
The women in
Wednesday's protest, however, was not related to women's rights or issues surrounding the Islamic veils — rather, the act of women burning their clothing is a symbolic Bedouin tribal gesture signifying an appeal for help to tribesmen, in this case to stop the attacks on the protesters.
The women's protest came as clashes have intensified between Saleh's forces and renegade fighters who have sided with the protesters and the opposition in demands that the president step down.
Medical and local officials said up to 25 civilians, tribal fighters and
government soldiers died overnight in Sanaa and the city of
A medical official said seven tribal fighters were among those killed in Sanaa's Hassaba district. Another medical official said four residents and nine soldiers also died in the fighting there.
Government forces also shelled houses in Taiz — a hotbed of anti-Saleh protests — killing five people, including four members of one family, a local official said. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Saleh has clung to power in the face of more than eight months of massive near-daily protests against his rule.
As they burned their veils, Yemeni women activists handed out leaflets appealing for help and protection.
"This is a plea from the free women of
Across town, a group of women supporters of Saleh marched Wednesday up to the U.N. office to voice their opposition to international pressure on the president to step down. The women entered the U.N. building to hand in their protest note.
During a meeting with the
The meeting with U.S. Ambassador Gerald Feierstein was Saleh's first since
he returned last month from
Saleh has repeatedly backed out of the deal at the last minute and the opposition has dismissed his latest offer.