RIYADH: A Saudi man lost a bit of his nose in a joint assault by his two wives after he jokingly threatened to marry a third woman.

Judaie Ibn Salem had thought his threat would help resolve an argument over dividing up his house.

I swore that I would do it because … they were impolite and that s when I came under an even bigger attack, Ibn Salem told Shams newspaper after having seven stitches inserted.

I never realised they would get so worked up. But the only way to restore my dignity is really to take a third wife.

I don t know what I m going to lose next if I do that.

Islamic law allows men to take up to four wives and polygamy is not unusual in the conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam.