The International Federation of Journalists has called on the Iraqi government to release the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush at a news conference on Sunday. Muntadhar al-Zaidi has been held without charge for over twenty-four hours and has been reportedly beaten in jail. His brother said al-Zaidi has suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury. Earlier today, al-Zaidi was handed over to the Iraqi military command in Baghdad. Al-Zaidi has become a folk hero in many parts of the Arab world. Demonstrations have been held across the region calling for his release. In Iraq, thousands of protesters rallied in Baghdad and Najaf.

Ali al-Husseini: “We call on him Bush to get out. We also call for the immediate pullout of the occupation forces form Iraq, and we also call for the release of the honest Iraqi Mujahid journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi for his ferocious and patriotic act at the cabinet, which we have seen.”