World | Tawakkol Karman Yemeni Gangs Injure Women Protesters Thousands marched for Nobel Peace Prize–winner By Neal Colgrass Posted Oct 10, 2011 4:00 PM CDT Copied Yemeni activist Tawakul Karman, center, and other demonstrators chant anti-government slogans during a protest in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) Pro-government gangs assaulted dozens of women in Yemen yesterday marching to honor the country's new Nobel Peace Prize winner, CNN reports. Thousands of women turned out in three Yemeni provinces to celebrate Tawakkol Karman, the first Arab woman to win the prize. But the march in Taiz was disrupted when thugs attacked with batons and rocks, injuring at least 38 women. One prominent Yemeni activist lays blame on the government: "This is a way for Saleh's government to send a message that women shouldn't demonstrate," he says. Demonstrators in the province of Shabwa demanded UN sanctions against President Ali Abdullah Saleh's ruling family; in Taiz, protesters chanted "Saleh Saleh will stand trial" while marching for more than 3 hours. Yemeni officials did not answer requests for comment. Read These Next Giuliani injured in high-speed highway crash. A game of doorbell ditch turns fatal for 11-year-old. It's an unexpected footnote in the life of Buford Pusser. Guy accused of snatching hat from boy at US Open IDed as rich CEO. Report an error