Yemeni women burn veils in protest

SANAA, Yemen, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Women in Sanaa, Yemen, burned their veils Wednesday to protest President Ali Abdullah Saleh's crackdown on anti-government protesters, witnesses said.

Thousands of women gathered in the capital, carrying banners reading "Saleh the butcher is killing women and is proud of it" and "Women have no value in the eyes in Ali Saleh," CNN reported.

The women gathered up veils and scarves and set them ablaze -- a provocative action in the conservative Islamic nation where women cover their faces and bodies with veils.

CNN said it was the first time in the nine months of Yemen's uprising that such an event has occurred.

More than 60 women were attacked in October by the government, protester Ruqaiah Nasser said, adding that government troops also raided homes and killed children.

"We will not stay quiet and will defend ourselves if our men can't defend us," Nasser said. "Tribes must understand they will not be respected by Yemeni women if they stay quiet while their women are being attacked by the Saleh regime. Tribes who ignore our calls are cowards and have no dignity."

"Saleh is killing women and children and this is against tribal culture," she said. "Where are their voices when we need them? It's a disgrace if they stay quiet."

The women's protests followed a Yemeni government announced cease-fire Tuesday. But the truce did not appear to be holding.

Also Wednesday, an opposition leader said government troops targeted positions of opposition forces in Sanaa, killing 19 people. The fighting pitted government troops against fighters led by tribal leader Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported.

Government forces fired shells and rockets at Ahmar's residence, which serves as headquarters to the Shura Council, and at the public square, considered ground zero for pro-democracy demonstrations, witnesses said.

Humair al-Ahmar, parliament's deputy chairman, said his residence and nearby houses also were targeted by artillery and tank fire.

"The random and brutal bombardment has also wounded dozens of people and inflicted extensive damage in houses and properties near my house," Ahmar said.

The U.S. State Department Tuesday said Saleh told the U.S. ambassador to Yemen he would sign an agreement to step aside and a cease-fire had been reached.