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Bush shoe attack spawns artwork | Bush shoe attack spawns artwork |
(about 22 hours later) | |
A sculpture of an enormous bronze-coloured shoe has been erected in Iraq to honour the journalist who threw his shoes at ex-US President George W Bush. | A sculpture of an enormous bronze-coloured shoe has been erected in Iraq to honour the journalist who threw his shoes at ex-US President George W Bush. |
The sofa-sized artwork was formally unveiled in Tikrit, hometown of late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein. | The sofa-sized artwork was formally unveiled in Tikrit, hometown of late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein. |
Artist Laith al-Amari insisted it was not a political work, but a "source of pride for all Iraqis". | Artist Laith al-Amari insisted it was not a political work, but a "source of pride for all Iraqis". |
Mr Bush managed to dodge the shoes but the man who threw them, Muntadar al-Zaidi, was arrested and awaits trial. | |
As he pulled off his shoes, Mr Zaidi, now 30, shouted: "This is from the widows, the orphans, and those who were killed in Iraq." | |
He also told Mr Bush, who launched the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and was paying a final visit to Iraq last month: "This is a farewell kiss, you dog". | He also told Mr Bush, who launched the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and was paying a final visit to Iraq last month: "This is a farewell kiss, you dog". |
Significant bush? | |
Mr Zaidi shot to fame as a result of his actions, which signalled extreme contempt in the Arab world, and inspired rallies across the Middle East and beyond. | |
Profile: Shoe-throwing journalistBush shoe-ing worst Arab insult | Profile: Shoe-throwing journalistBush shoe-ing worst Arab insult |
About 400 people gathered on Thursday to see the monument unveiled - a shoe on a white pedestal, about 3m (10ft) high, with a poem praising Mr Zaidi at its base, AFP said. There is also a bush sticking out of the shoe. | |
The sculpture stands in the gardens of an Iraqi foundation that looks after children whose parents died in the violence following the US-led invasion. | The sculpture stands in the gardens of an Iraqi foundation that looks after children whose parents died in the violence following the US-led invasion. |
The foundation's president, Shaha al-Juburi, said the sculpture was not backed by any political party or organisation. | The foundation's president, Shaha al-Juburi, said the sculpture was not backed by any political party or organisation. |
Since his arrest, Mr Zaidi, a TV journalist, has reportedly been beaten in custody, suffering a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding. | |
He has been charged with aggression against a foreign head of state, and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted. His family denies he has done anything wrong. | He has been charged with aggression against a foreign head of state, and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted. His family denies he has done anything wrong. |
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