Iraqi shoe thrower to go on trial
The Iraqi man who threw his shoes at former US President George W Bush in December is to go on trial in Baghdad. BBC.
Muntadar al-Zaidi is charged with assaulting a foreign leader and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years.
His lawyers argue he was simply expressing his views in a country where passions are still inflamed after the US-led invasion in 2003.
The TV reporter achieved global notoriety by his actions, which were celebrated across the Arab world.
'Symbol of disrespect'
The trial is due to open on Thursday morning in Baghdad.
However, after an appeal by the defence team, the court may change the charges against Mr Zaidi once the trial is under way.
The lesser charge would incur a maximum sentence of two years.
The head of the defence team told the BBC they would be pressing for the charges to be dismissed and Mr Zaidi freed, without delay.
He said Mr Zaidi stood by what he had done and would not be offering any apologies to Mr Bush.
Mr Zaidi's lawyers said earlier that he had simply been expressing his opposition to the US presence in Iraq and that Mr Bush had never been in serious danger.
"Have you ever heard of anyone being killed by a shoe?" lawyer Dhiaa al-Saadi told Reuters in December.
"In Europe, they throw eggs and rotten tomatoes to insult. In Iraq, throwing a shoe is a symbol of disrespect."
The incident drew mixed reactions in Iraq
Mr Zaidi threw two shoes at Mr Bush during a press conference in Baghdad on 15 December.
He 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 was arrested and has been held in custody ever since.
His actions were condemned by the Iraqi government as "shameful", but he was celebrated as a hero by thousands in the Arab world, who called for his immediate release from prison.
Mr Zaidi had been due to go on trial last December, but his trial was postponed after the appeal.