Iraqi jailed for Bush shoe attack

An Iraqi journalist hailed as a hero in the Arab world for throwing his shoes at former US President George W Bush has been jailed for three years.

Muntadar al-Zaidi had pleaded not guilty as his trial resumed in Baghdad, telling the judge: "My reaction was natural, just like any Iraqi."
Hitting someone with a shoe is a grave insult to Arabs. Zaidi could have been jailed for 15 years for the assault.

Mr Bush, on a farewell trip to Iraq in December, shrugged off the incident.
The head of Zaidi's defence team Dhiaa al-Saadi described the sentence as "harsh and is not in harmony with the law"

Defence lawyers had called for the charges to be dismissed, saying Mr Bush had never been in serious danger.
During the assault at a news conference in Baghdad on 15 December, Zaidi shouted that Mr Bush was "a dog" and the shoes were "a farewell kiss" from those who had been killed, orphaned or widowed in Iraq.
Mr Bush ducked the shoes and appeared untroubled by the incident, joking shortly after that he knew they were a size 10.

Mr Zaidi has been held in custody ever since. His lawyers said he was beaten by prison guards, although he has looked healthy at court appearances.
His actions were condemned by the Iraqi government as "shameful", but he was celebrated as a hero by thousands across the world.