U.S. soldiers’ behavior forced Muntadher to throw his shoes at Bush – al-Zaydi’s family

Iraq-Soldiers BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The family of Muntadher al-Zaydi said on Monday that the U.S. soldiers’ behavior forced him to throw his shoes at U.S. President George Bush, demanding to free him immediately. “The family does not know anything about where is he being held until now or his fate and we are trying to know anything by all means,” Umm Hanaa, his sister, told IraqiNews.com over the phone. “The U.S. forces’ brutal acts were the reason which pushed him to throw his shoes at Bush,” she added. Muntadher al-Zaydi threw a pair of shoes at U.S. President George Bush during a joint press conference with the Iraqi premier. President Bush quickly ducked when a pair of shoes was hurled at him Sunday. Zaydi, a young man of no more than 30 years old, has worked for al-Boghdadiya since its establishment in the wake of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. He had been kidnapped two years ago by unidentified gunmen while stepping out of his home in al-Bab al-Sharqi area, central Baghdad. A week later he was found lying on the ground near auto selling stores in al-Nahda square, Baghdad, at a late night hour. Zaydi is considered one of the journalists outspokenly criticizing the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq. He had written several reports opposing the U.S. military presence in the country. To Iraqis, the incident represented a major insult to the U.S. president. SH (S)/SR 1