Iraqis demand release of shoe-thrower

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-16-2008 09:09

Pics: Iraqi reporter throws shoes at Bush in Baghdad

Over in Iraq several thousand people have demonstrated in Baghdad and other cities to demand the release of the reporter who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference.

An Iraqi reporter called visiting U.S. President Bush a 'dog' in Arabic on Sunday and threw his shoes at him during a news conference in Baghdad.

Arabs across many parts of the Middle East are hailing the Shiite journalist as a hero and praise his insult as a proper send-off to the unpopular US president.

Showing the sole of your shoe to someone in the Arab world is a sign of extreme disrespect, and throwing your shoes is even worse.

Bush was not hit or injured by the shoes and later made light of Sunday's incident.

George W. Bush, US President, said, "I'm not insulted. I don't hold it against the government. I don't think the Iraqi press corps as a whole is terrible. And so, the guy wanted to get on TV and he did. I don't know what his beef is."

Some US citizens see the incident as an indication of the world's unhappiness with Bush's policies.