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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iraq shoe thrower 'was tortured' | Iraq shoe thrower 'was tortured' |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former US President George W Bush says he was tortured by senior government officials while in jail. | The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former US President George W Bush says he was tortured by senior government officials while in jail. |
| Shortly after his release from nine months in a Baghdad prison, Muntadar al-Zaidi said he wanted an apology - and would name the officials later. | Shortly after his release from nine months in a Baghdad prison, Muntadar al-Zaidi said he wanted an apology - and would name the officials later. |
| His relatives say the 30-year-old reporter still fears for his life. | His relatives say the 30-year-old reporter still fears for his life. |
| His protest last December made him a hero among many Arabs, but he was jailed for assaulting a foreign leader. | His protest last December made him a hero among many Arabs, but he was jailed for assaulting a foreign leader. |
| And the BBC's Hugh Sykes, in Baghdad, says many in Iraq regarded his actions as unforgivably rude. | |
| Initially sentenced to three years in jail, he had the term reduced to 12 months on appeal and was released three months early for good behaviour. | Initially sentenced to three years in jail, he had the term reduced to 12 months on appeal and was released three months early for good behaviour. |
| Golden horse | |
| After his release he told reporters: "Today I am free again but my homeland is still a prison." | |
| 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 | |
| Reuters reported he was slurring his speech because of a missing tooth. | Reuters reported he was slurring his speech because of a missing tooth. |
| He went on to say he had been tortured while in jail, and demanded an apology from Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | He went on to say he had been tortured while in jail, and demanded an apology from Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. |
| He said he would name the officials who tortured him in due course. | He said he would name the officials who tortured him in due course. |
| His allegations of abuse mirror claims made earlier by his family, who said he had been beaten, suffering a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding. | His allegations of abuse mirror claims made earlier by his family, who said he had been beaten, suffering a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding. |
| The Iraqi military denied the allegations. | |
| 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. | |
| His relatives also claim he was even offered a golden horse by the Emir of Qatar. | |
| 'Goodbye kiss' | |
| 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. | |
| As he flung the shoes at Mr Bush during a news conference with Mr Maliki, 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." | |
| The incident was seen as hugely embarrassing for both Mr Bush and Mr Maliki. | |
| 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. |