Bush shoe-thrower appears in Baghdad court

Baghdad: The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former US president George W. Bush appeared at a Baghdad court Thursday.

Muntadhar al-Zaidi, 30, a reporter with Cairo-based Baghdadia Iraqi television, is standing trial on charge of assaulting a foreign leader.

In his previous appearance Feb 19, al-Zaidi told the court that he could not control his emotions when he saw Bush, who ordered war on Iraq in 2003, in front of him.

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He also said that he was not trying to kill Bush and that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was not targeted in the attack.

Under Iraqi law, Zaidi is facing up to 15 years in prison if he is found guilty of assaulting a foreign leader.

Diyaa al-Saadi, head of Zaidi's 25-lawyer defence team, said: "Zaidi did not commit a homicide or intend to commit one, he was only trying to express his rejection to the killing of his people."

He said that Zaidi "had social, political and psychological reasons behind his attack".

Zaidi has been in custody after he threw his shoes at Bush during his joint press conference with al-Maliki in Baghdad Dec 14, 2008.
Source: IANS