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| Iraq shoe thrower 'was tortured' | Iraq shoe thrower 'was tortured' |
| (39 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 demanded an apology - and said he would name the officials later. | Shortly after his release from nine months in a Baghdad prison, Muntadar al-Zaidi demanded an apology - and said he would name the officials later. |
| Iraqi officials told the BBC his claims should be investigated. | Iraqi officials told the BBC his claims should be investigated. |
| His protest last December made him a hero for many Arabs, but some Iraqis still regard it as unforgivably rude. | His protest last December made him a hero for many Arabs, but some Iraqis still regard it as unforgivably rude. |
| He was convicted of assaulting a foreign leader and initially sentenced to three years in jail. | He was convicted of assaulting a foreign leader and initially sentenced to three years in jail. |
| But he had the term reduced to 12 months on appeal and was released three months early for good behaviour. | But he had the term reduced to 12 months on appeal and was released three months early for good behaviour. |
| 'Insurgent revolutionary' | 'Insurgent revolutionary' |
| After his release on Tuesday he told journalists: "I am free again, but my homeland is still a prison." | After his release on Tuesday he told journalists: "I am free again, but my homeland is still a prison." |
| Reuters news agency reported he was slurring his speech because of a missing tooth. | Reuters news agency reported he was slurring his speech because of a missing tooth. |
| He went on to say he had suffered beatings, whippings, electric shocks and simulated drowning at the hands of officials and guards. | He went on to say he had suffered beatings, whippings, electric shocks and simulated drowning at the hands of officials and guards. |
| 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 | 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 |
| "At the time that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said on television that he could not sleep without being reassured on my fate... I was being tortured in the worst ways, beaten with electric cables and iron bars," he said. | "At the time that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said on television that he could not sleep without being reassured on my fate... I was being tortured in the worst ways, beaten with electric cables and iron bars," he said. |
| He demanded an apology from Mr Maliki and said he would name the officials who tortured him in due course. | He demanded an apology from Mr Maliki and said he would name the officials who tortured him in due course. |
| He also said he feared US intelligence services regarded him as an "insurgent revolutionary" and would "spare no effort" in a bid to kill him. | He also said he feared US intelligence services regarded him as an "insurgent revolutionary" and would "spare no effort" in a bid to kill him. |
| "I want to warn all my relatives and people close to me that these services will use all means to trap and try to kill and liquidate me either physically, socially or professionally," he said. | "I want to warn all my relatives and people close to me that these services will use all means to trap and try to kill and liquidate me either physically, socially or professionally," he said. |
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| Zaidi shouts "this is the end" as he throws his shoes at President Bush | Zaidi shouts "this is the end" as he throws his shoes at President Bush |
| 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 earlier denied the allegations, but following Zaidi's news conference Sami Al Askari, an adviser to Mr Maliki, said his torture claims should be investigated. | The Iraqi military earlier denied the allegations, but following Zaidi's news conference Sami Al Askari, an adviser to Mr Maliki, said his torture claims should be investigated. |
| 'Goodbye kiss' | 'Goodbye kiss' |
| Zaidi's family has been preparing to throw a party for him. | Zaidi's family has been preparing to throw a party for him. |
| He has reportedly received offers of money, jobs and even marriage from across the Arab world. | He has reportedly received offers of money, jobs and even marriage from across the Arab world. |
| His relatives say he was offered a golden horse by the Emir of Qatar. | |
| I've seen a lot of weird things during my presidency, and this may rank up there as one of the weirdest George W Bush | I've seen a lot of weird things during my presidency, and this may rank up there as one of the weirdest George W Bush |
| 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. | |
| The shoe-throwing incident came during a joint news conference between Mr Bush and Mr Maliki. | The shoe-throwing incident came during a joint news conference between Mr Bush and Mr Maliki. |
| As he threw the shoes, Zaidi shouted: "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog. | As he threw 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." | "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." |
| In an interview afterwards, Mr Bush insisted he did not harbour any ill feeling about it. | 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. | "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. |