SANAA, Yemen, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- A group of protesters detained in Yemen announced the start of a hunger strike to denounce what they say is an illegal detention by the government.
A Yemeni human rights organization known by its Arabic acronym Hood said around 500 protesters, including around one dozen women, were arrested by authorities backing Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
A letter from the prisoners published by the independent Yemen Post said they started a hunger strike to protest their detention.
"We are announcing the beginning of our hunger strike as we wish to denounce the illegality and baseless grounds upon which we were arrested," the letter read. "Please deliver this message with the utmost speed."
Hundreds of Yemeni women called on tribal leaders to come to their aid after several women were killed allegedly by pro-regime fighters.
Washington has expressed frustration with Saleh on a regular basis. Last week, he summoned the U.S. envoy to Yemen to tell him he would sign a resignation deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council but hasn't fulfilled the promise.
Saleh has made similar pledges as far back as March.
