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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Iraq shoe-thrower set for trial | Iraq shoe-thrower set for trial |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An Iraqi journalist who flung shoes at US President George W Bush will go on trial on 31 December, his brother and a judge have said. | An Iraqi journalist who flung shoes at US President George W Bush will go on trial on 31 December, his brother and a judge have said. |
| Muntadar al-Zaidi is accused of "aggression against a foreign head of state" over the 14 December incident. | Muntadar al-Zaidi is accused of "aggression against a foreign head of state" over the 14 December incident. |
| The 28-year-old, hailed as a hero by some in the Arab world, could face a jail term if convicted. | The 28-year-old, hailed as a hero by some in the Arab world, could face a jail term if convicted. |
| His brother says he has been abused in detention and plans to file a legal suit over his injuries. | His brother says he has been abused in detention and plans to file a legal suit over his injuries. |
| The journalist hurled the shoes - a grave insult in the Arab world - at Mr Bush as he addressed a news conference in Baghdad, during a surprise one-day visit. | The journalist hurled the shoes - a grave insult in the Arab world - at Mr Bush as he addressed a news conference in Baghdad, during a surprise one-day visit. |
| Calling the US president a "dog", he said he was acting for "widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq". | Calling the US president a "dog", he said he was acting for "widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq". |
| 'Sales spike' | 'Sales spike' |
| Investigating Judge Dhiya al-Kenani told the AFP news agency that the trial date had been set for the last day of 2008. | Investigating Judge Dhiya al-Kenani told the AFP news agency that the trial date had been set for the last day of 2008. |
| "The investigation phase is over and the case has been transferred to the Central Criminal Court," he said. | "The investigation phase is over and the case has been transferred to the Central Criminal Court," he said. |
| Aggression against a head of state carries a prison term of between five and 15 years - but media reports said Mr al-Zaidi could eventually face a lesser charge of "attempted aggression". Mr Bush ducked twice during the incident and was not injured | Aggression against a head of state carries a prison term of between five and 15 years - but media reports said Mr al-Zaidi could eventually face a lesser charge of "attempted aggression". Mr Bush ducked twice during the incident and was not injured |
| The journalist's brother, Uday al-Zaidi, confirmed the court date, but made accusations against the Iraqi authorities of beating and abusing his brother. | The journalist's brother, Uday al-Zaidi, confirmed the court date, but made accusations against the Iraqi authorities of beating and abusing his brother. |
| His brother had lost a tooth and had burns on his ears, he told the Associated Press news agency after visiting him in detention on Sunday. He was planning to sue, he told the agency. | His brother had lost a tooth and had burns on his ears, he told the Associated Press news agency after visiting him in detention on Sunday. He was planning to sue, he told the agency. |
| Mr Kenani rejected the allegations of abuse. The only marks on Mr al-Zaidi's face were bruises, the judge said, and they were small ones received during the arrest, he told AFP. | Mr Kenani rejected the allegations of abuse. The only marks on Mr al-Zaidi's face were bruises, the judge said, and they were small ones received during the arrest, he told AFP. |
| Mr Bush himself has sought to play down the incident. Last week his spokeswoman said he had "no hard feelings" over the matter. | Mr Bush himself has sought to play down the incident. Last week his spokeswoman said he had "no hard feelings" over the matter. |
| But it has been gleefully seized upon by anti-Bush protesters around the world - and is reported to have boosted the business of one Turkish shoe-maker. | But it has been gleefully seized upon by anti-Bush protesters around the world - and is reported to have boosted the business of one Turkish shoe-maker. |
| According to the New York Times, sales at the Istanbul-based Baydan Shoe Company have spiked after it claimed to have made the footwear hurled at Mr Bush. | |
| Ramazan Baydan told the newspaper it was definitely his shoe, and boasted of new orders coming in from across the world. | Ramazan Baydan told the newspaper it was definitely his shoe, and boasted of new orders coming in from across the world. |