Many ordinary Iraqis have followed Muntader al-Zaidi’s example by putting the boot into America.
Crowds calling for his release from police custody took to the streets in Baghdad’s Sadr City, a Shi’ite stronghold.
For them and many in the rest of the Arab world, the television correspondent is a hero. Iraq’s prime minister however called his act “barbarous”, and the prime minister’s office said he is being interrogated to find out if anyone paid him to throw his shoes at George Bush. He is also tested to see if he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
His television station has also demanded his release in keeping with what they call democracy and the rights of opinion and expression.
