error: cannot get exclusive lock on /var/lib/rpm/Packages error: cannot open Packages
 

im trying to uninstall gaim so i can install a newer version. but when i type rpm -e gaim this error message comes up.
[matthew@HEADACHE matthew]$ rpm -e gaim
error: cannot get exclusive lock on /var/lib/rpm/Packages
error: cannot open Packages index using db3 - Operation not permitted (1)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm
[matthew@HEADACHE matthew]$
What does this mean?

are you root user, when you typed it?

You will need to be logged in as root to add or remove packages. su to root then try again:
su -
# Then enter you root password
rpm -e gaim

thanks. it worked.