Shoeman’s lawyer rules out trial tom.

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A lawyer of Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaydi, who threw a pair of shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad two weeks ago, ruled out a trial session for his defendant tomorrow. “The defense committee has requested the Court of Cassation to change the legal description, in accordance with which al-Zaydi will be tried under Article 223 of the penal code,” a member of the committee, Ahlam al-Lami, told IraqiNews.com. “We have also submitted a plea for his release on bail,” Lami added. If found guilty, al-Zaydi may face an up to seven-year jail sentence. Al-Zaydi, a young man of 29 years old, has worked for al-Boghdadiya TV Channel 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. Al-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. SS (S) 1