Husband sees red over box of tomatoes

Manama: A Saudi mother of four was publicly divorced by her angry husband after she bought a box of tomatoes.

The husband, a security guard in Al Ahsa, in eastern Saudi Arabia, reportedly became "very upset" after his 28-year-old wife bought the tomato carton, saying it was too expensive for his 2,000 Saudi riyal (Dh1,959) monthly salary.

"I cannot afford to pay 40 riyals for a carton of tomatoes every three days," he said.

Saudi daily Al Yawm reported yesterday that the husband shouted repeatedly at his wife, blaming her for spending the money, in front of their neighbours before the verbal argument turned into a scuffle. The fuming wife demanded to be divorced and her husband obliged by granting her the divorce without hesitation, according to the report.