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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Iraq shoe thrower freed from jail | Iraq shoe thrower freed from jail |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Iraqi man who threw his shoes at former US President George W Bush has been released from custody after nine months in a Baghdad jail. | |
| Muntadar al-Zaidi's act of protest last December made him a hero in large parts of the Arab world and beyond. | Muntadar al-Zaidi's act of protest last December made him a hero in large parts of the Arab world and beyond. |
| Zaidi was convicted of assaulting a foreign leader and was sentenced to three years in jail - later reduced to 12 months after an appeal. | Zaidi was convicted of assaulting a foreign leader and was sentenced to three years in jail - later reduced to 12 months after an appeal. |
| He said he was tortured by government officials while he was imprisoned. | |
| The BBC's Hugh Sykes, in Baghdad, says although Zaidi became a hero to many, large numbers of Iraqis think his actions were unforgivably rude. | The BBC's Hugh Sykes, in Baghdad, says although Zaidi became a hero to many, large numbers of Iraqis think his actions were unforgivably rude. |
| 'Goodbye kiss' | |
| Zaidi's family has been preparing to hold a party for him, saying he has received offers of money, jobs and even marriage from sympathisers across the Arab world. | |
| MUNTADAR AL-ZAIDI Worked for Egypt-based broadcaster since 2005Was kidnapped by gunmen while reporting in Baghdad in 2007Detained by US troops for a night in 2008, his brother says, before they freed him and apologised In pictures: Fashion of shoe-ing In the shoe thrower's footsteps Profile: Shoe-throwing reporter | |
| His family claims he was even offered a golden horse by the Emir of Qatar. | |
| His action was also celebrated in internet games and on T-shirts. | His action was also celebrated in internet games and on T-shirts. |
| He was meant to be released on Monday, but red-tape meant he had to spend another day in jail. | |
| When news of his release filtered through to his family's home in Baghdad, there was an eruption of celebration with women dancing and singing. | |
| His brother, Uday, told a crowd of journalists: "Every time Bush turns a new page in his life he will find Muntadar's shoes waiting for him." | |
| He said Zaidi still feared for his life and would fly to Greece for medical check-ups. | |
| His family had previously said the reporter was beaten while in prison, suffering a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding. Those allegations have been rejected by the Iraqi military. | |
| The previously little-known journalist worked for the private Cairo-based al-Baghdadia TV. | The previously little-known journalist worked for the private Cairo-based al-Baghdadia TV. |
| As he flung the shoes, Zaidi shouted: "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." | As he flung the shoes, Zaidi shouted: "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." |
| Mr Bush had been giving a joint news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and the incident was seen as hugely embarrassing for both men. | |
| But in an interview afterwards, Mr Bush insisted he did not harbour any ill feeling about it. | |
| "It was amusing - I've seen a lot of weird things during my presidency, and this may rank up there as one of the weirdest," he said. |