Date:23/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122356091200.htm

International

I will do it again, says Muntader al-Zaidi

BAGHDAD: Muntader al-Zaidi, who threw his shoes at United States President George W. Bush, says he would do it again and that he was forced to write a letter of apology after being tortured in jail, the journalist’s brother claimed on Monday.

The prime minister’s office said last week that Muntader al-Zaidi had written a letter of apology. But Mr. Uday al-Zeidi said that the letter was written against the journalist’s will.

Muntadhar al-Zeidi’s trial on charges of assaulting a foreign leader is to begin December 31, a spokesman for the Iraqi Higher Judicial Court said. — AP