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Shoe-Tosser to Maliki: Pardon Me

Journalist appeals to Iraqi PM's 'fatherly feelings'

By Ambreen Ali,  Newser User

Posted Dec 18, 2008 4:46 PM CST

(Newser) – The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush is appealing to PM Nouri al-Maliki for a pardon, the Guardian reports. Calling on Maliki's "fatherly feelings," Muntadar al-Zaidi expressed remorse, saying the "big ugly act cannot be excused," Maliki's office said. He also reminded the PM of an interview in which Maliki said, "Come in, this is your house."

Zaidi's brother questioned the account, saying, "he does not apologize. But if it happened, I tell you it happened under pressure," Reuters reports. The PM can recommend a pardon to the president, Jalal Talabani, but that normally happens only after a conviction, the AP reports. Zaidi has admitted to "aggression against a president" but has not been seen in public since the incident Sunday.

In this image from APTN video, President Bush ducks as a man throws a shoe at him, during a news conference with Iraq PM Nouri al-Maliki, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad.
In this image from APTN video, President Bush ducks as a man throws a shoe at him, during a news conference with Iraq PM Nouri al-Maliki, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad.   (AP Photo)
Security personal surround President Bush and Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki after an Iraqi man threw a shoe at Bush during a joint news conference Sunday, December 14, 2008 in Baghdad.
Security personal surround President Bush and Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki after an Iraqi man threw a shoe at Bush during a joint news conference Sunday, December 14, 2008 in Baghdad.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
In this image from APTN video, Muntadhar al-Zeidi throws a shoe at President Bush, background left, during a news conference with Iraq PM Nouri al-Maliki, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad.
In this image from APTN video, Muntadhar al-Zeidi throws a shoe at President Bush, background left, during a news conference with Iraq PM Nouri al-Maliki, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad.   (AP Photo)
A Turkish leftist holds a model of shoe as he marches to the US embassy to protest the Iraq invasion and express solidarity with Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi, in Ankara, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008.
A Turkish leftist holds a model of shoe as he marches to the US embassy to protest the Iraq invasion and express solidarity with Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi, in Ankara, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Shannonals
Dec 19, 2008 1:40 AM CST
You have to be friggin kidding. I'm not a fan out President Bush, but the man is the head of a country, there has to be action taken against this journalist

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