"When I saw the war criminal Bush, I wanted to show my resentment - after six years of occupation, this killer came to my country smiling and bragging about victory" , Muntadar al-Zaidi

The Iraqi journalist who threw a pair of shoes at President Bush at a news conference in Baghdad says he was tortured in jail.

Muntadar al-Zaidi was released on Tuesday after serving nine months. The BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad describes the day's unfolding events.

After leaving prison, Muntadar al-Zaidi went straight to al Baghdadiya - the TV station he was working for at the news conference where he threw the shoes.

Addressing his own news conference, he said he had been tortured: "At the very moment that the Prime Minister Mr al-Maliki was on TV saying he wouldn't rest until he was sure I was sleeping on a comfortable bed, I was being hideously tortured.

"I was being given electric shocks, and being hit with cables and steel roods, I was left handcuffed and immersed in water until dawn in cold weather. I demand that Mr al-Maliki apologise for concealing the truth."

An advisor to the prime minister told the BBC that the torture allegation should be investigated.

When I saw the war criminal Bush, I wanted to show my resentment - after six years of occupation, this killer came to my country smiling and bragging about victory
Muntadar al-Zaidi

And a spokesman for the ministry of human rights told us they do not believe he was tortured in the jail where he spent the past nine months, as it is a "detention centre with acceptable human rights standards".

They concluded that, if he was tortured, it must have happened soon after he was arrested and before his trial.

At his news conference, Mr Zaidi offered an explanation for his shoe-throwing protest.

"I'm not a hero," he said, "but when I saw the war criminal Bush, I wanted to show my resentment - after six years of occupation, this killer came to my country smiling and bragging about victory."

He went on: "When I saw the pictures of the dead, it kept me awake at night."

He also addressed objections that journalists should throw questions at presidents, and not shoes: "If I gave the profession of journalism a bad name, I apologise," he said.

Emotional welcome

Arriving at the al Baghdadiya compound, a trumpeter and two drummers sounded a welcome for Mr Zaidi - and in his honour, three sheep were slaughtered live on his own channel.

At his modest central Baghdad flat, his family prepared an exuberant and emotional welcome home.

They danced, they put up balloons and posters, and his young nephews and nieces practised a celebratory song - roughly translated as "Bush Bush listen well, we said goodbye with a pair of shoes".

On the open corridor outside his flat, another sheep waited patiently for its end - six more were assembled down in the street.

As the day - and the heat - wore on, the family handed out soft drinks to waiting reporters.

Non-Muslims (and the non-observant) accepted eagerly - but for the rest it is Ramadan, and a fast is a fast, even if it is 40C (104F) in the shade.

But Mr Zaidi never turned up. Reporters dispersed, the family went back inside, and the six sheep in the street were taken away - leaving the one animal upstairs alone there again with its bowl of water.

Not all Iraqis admire him - may thought his gesture was rude and unjustified.

According to Arab tradition, throwing shoes and calling the intended target a dog was a double insult.

Iraq shoe thrower freed from jail

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former US President George W Bush says he was tortured by senior government officials while in jail.

Shortly after his release from nine months in a Baghdad prison, Muntadar al-Zaidi demanded an apology - and said he would name the officials later.

Iraqi officials told the BBC his claims should be investigated.

His protest last December made him a hero for many Arabs. He was convicted of assaulting a foreign leader.

Initially, he was sentenced to three years in jail.

But he had the term reduced to 12 months on appeal and was released three months early for good behaviour.

'Insurgent revolutionary'


After his release on Tuesday he told journalists: "I am free again, but my homeland is still a prison."

Reuters news agency reported he was slurring his speech because of a missing tooth.

He went on to say he had suffered beatings, whippings, electric shocks and simulated drowning at the hands of officials and guards.

"At the time that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said on television that he could not sleep without being reassured on my fate, I was being tortured in the worst ways, beaten with electric cables and iron bars," he said.

He demanded an apology from Mr Maliki and said he would name the officials who tortured him in due course.


Many Iraqis regard Muntadar al-Zaidi as a national hero - others think he was unforgivably rude.

After leaving prison, Mr Zaidi went straight to al Baghdadiya, the TV station he was working for at the news conference where he threw the shoes.

Addressing his own news conference, he said he had been tortured in jail.

A spokesman for the ministry of human rights told us that if he was badly treated, it's likely that it happened while he was in custody before his trial, and not in the prison where he spent the past nine months, as it is a jail with a good reputation.
Shoe thrower welcomed home

He also said he feared US intelligence services regarded him as an "insurgent revolutionary" and would "spare no effort" in a bid to kill him.

"I want to warn all my relatives and people close to me that these services will use all means to trap and try to kill and liquidate me either physically, socially or professionally," he said.

His allegations of abuse mirror claims made earlier by his family, who said he had been beaten, suffering a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding.

The Iraqi military earlier denied the allegations, but following Zaidi's news conference Sami Al Askari, an adviser to Mr Maliki, said his torture claims should be investigated.

Zaidi's family has been preparing to throw a party for him.

He has reportedly received offers of money, jobs and even marriage from across the Arab world.

His relatives say he was offered a golden horse by the Emir of Qatar.

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Zaidi shouts "this is the end" as he throws his shoes at President Bush

When news of his release filtered through to his family's home in Baghdad, there was an eruption of celebration, with women dancing and singing.

'Goodbye kiss'

The shoe-throwing incident came during a joint news conference between Mr Bush and Mr Maliki.

As he threw the shoes, Zaidi shouted: "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog.

"This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

In an interview afterwards, Mr Bush insisted he did not harbour any ill feeling about it.

"It was amusing - I've seen a lot of weird things during my presidency, and this may rank up there as one of the weirdest," he said.

Why won't I, what is She my Wife for. I need not hide anything from her.

anthony16:

It's a pity,she just went there to rubbish her reputation

I hate her the most for being part of this Fluke Government.
She lost her proud since accepting the Ministerial Appointment.

Waht a shameless Amodu, Okunrin nijo tile da. he think he has word to say, Oh my God!! what a shameless Man

I am Happy to hear this. Ribadu you re a true son of your Father. Though you stepped on toes but it is in the Nigerian People Interest.

You re a Living Legend.

Waziri can not stand you, she's only a fluke. keran majele ni won fi Waziri se.

Aroma Ufodike. You made History

As the popular saying: History don't make Man, Man makes History.
Gani's Life is an indication that its true that Man makes History. He live and lead an Examplary Life which should be emulate by all entusiasm Nigerians who truly believe in the Cause He died for. He died in Cause of Liberating the Masses Struggle. I have always loves Him and forever I will.
Even if they see no reason in Immortalizing Him or He's not being recognized for the Nobel Peace price Award, In our mind He'll always be Honoured.

Great Chief Ganiu Fawehinmi
Great the Prophet of the Masses
Great the Messiah of the Nigerian Student
Great the Advocate of the Masses

Remembers that even if they failed to Immortalize you or you re not being recognized by the Authorities, Forever you remain our Hero and Forever you'll be written in the History and forever you'll be remembers by the Ordinary Nigerian, All Nigerian Student, Your likes Patriots and in the Nigerian Bar Association.

My Favourite name for God is Al-Jaleel -The Sublime

in the history of this nation lies the memory of gani 'the great advocate of the masses'

Happy Ramadan

Happy Ramadan

Happy Ramadan

Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan Kareem

ferdiii:

Kidnapping and corruption will live and operate side by side. When you block the waterways what happens to you. When you push youths to the wall, what do you get, It is all about the benjamins and trying to stay alive. Remember no point living if you don't feel alive! Tackle the two scourges at the same time. Haha, 9ja never tackled any problem though, so long way off.Am out

@ ferdiii
You make a good point, I wish I had read this before my post

I can't imagine what the militant is fighting for now. This is now business in all ramification, they've turned a struggle to a Broad day Light Robbery.

mama-gee:

Jobless!!!!! Jobless!!!!!!!

@ mama-gee

thank you for your compliment, I am open to Critism

I found it hard to understand this

@ Poster

Oh Boy you ain't funny at all and you must not tell me you regret doing that cause you'll even do it a thousand time more. . . . .

@ Poster,

You should have put in a Poll _{that will have been more interesting}

As for me on my choice of woman, I would prefer an Attractive one as long as She can make me go Mad on Bed, as for the Functions: we'll hire a Cook and house help to do that


Thanks

shoboy9:

Wazirir was not appointed to root out corruption and she knows it. Anyone criticising her for not doing her job is (a) not realistic (b) not serious about bringing about change for the better. One thing is sure though, corrupt nigerians are the ones killing the rest of us.

@ shoboy9 and likes
I love you guys for your brave comments you re making here.


" I never liked Wazirisince she's been appointed. I never liked her and she's making me hate her on daily bases"
I advice she keeps to what she's being asked to do and stop malicing on My Hero "Ribadu" and if its part of her job to malice him she should keep it up I promise her she'll not see the Mercy of God if she continue doing this.

Nigerian Police, Bunch of Mad People

danacreate:

Finance Minister - North
National Planning- North
CBN Governor- North
Petroleum- North
FCT- North

They then gave Minister of states in all those ministries to the South to make it look as if they are doing something. Until the South have a way of working together, it will be THINGS FALL APART , THE CENTRE CANNOT HOLD. and the North will continue to make us second class.

well spoken. The northerns are more unified, they stick together as one when it comes to national issues, but we in the south

You get to understand what makes them more powerful, they are using their unifying measure to over shadow the Nigerian People

Its a good development

My Dear Brothers & Sisters: Happy Birthday to us all. The Leo's' and Virgo's' of August.

I got no plan on ground yet only that my Babe is taking me out on thee day


@9iceX
We were born on the same day: Hi my twin Brother

I've tried doing that already. . . .

I told people to call me by my Brand Virgo D'Angello, almost 80% of my community weren't familiar with my real name any more, what else,

Happy Birthday,

Na for Life I dey wish you many happy returns, , , , , .

reach me I get Present for you, My presnce might be late but my present can't be.

they are only leaving Baghdad not Iraqi yet. . . .

the US Troops wil still be in other part of Iraqi till 2012, So why don't they wait till 2012 before this jubilations

na when Chief Of Staff of the Area Boys: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Him Area Comander Raji Fashola turn to MATRIX,