Analysts said radical Sunnis in the ultraconservative kingdom consider Saudi Shiites to be allies of the Yemen Huthi rebels.

It was the most visible step to date of the ultraconservative kingdom easing rules which have separated the sexes for decades.

Analysts described the dispute as part of a wider pushback against external criticism, noting the ultraconservative kingdom's newly aggressive foreign policy.

Several Saudi women boldly got behind the wheel today, seeking to ignite a road rebellion against the male-only driving rules in the ultraconservative kingdom.