Lawyer: Iraqi shoe-thrower "not being tortured"

Dec 18, 2008, 11:12 GMT

Baghdad - Montazer al-Zaidi, the TV reporter who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush on Sunday, has not been tortured and has been well-treated during his detention, one of his lawyers said Thursday.

'Al-Zaidi is in good health and was not tortured during his detention,' one of his lawyers told the Voices of Iraq (VOI) news agency. The lawyer spoke spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Al-Zaidi, who has worked for the Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya since 2005, is being tried at the Iraqi Criminal Court for throwing his shoes at Bush during a press conference on Sunday as he shouted in Arabic: 'This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog.'

He will face seven to 10 years behind bars if found guilty of 'aggression against a president,' according to the official spokesman for the higher judicial council, Abdel Sattar al-Bairaqdar.

Al-Zaidi's case opened in Baghdad on Wednesday, without him being present. His family had made public their fears that he was being mistreated in custody.

Meanwhile on Thursday, Jordanian lawmakers observed a minute's silence in a show of support for Iraqi reporter, local newspapers reported. 'Zaidi will remain a symbol of defending Arab dignity which (Bush) vanquished in 2003,' by invading Iraq, pro-government member of parliament Najeh Momani said.

Over the last few days hundreds of Iraqis have demonstrated in the streets of Baghdad calling for al-Zaidi's release, chanting: 'Al-Zaidi the hero of Iraq, the lion of Mesopotamia.

Separately, unknown gunmen killed a media official who belonged to the communist party in Kirkuk. The gunmen broke into her house in al-Qadissiya neighborhood in southern Kirkuk, the chief of local police told VOI.

In the volatile Diyala province, a bomb ripped through an army patrol injuring three soldiers and two civilians. The northern province is known for its violence and sectarian strife.