By IRNA,
Baghdad : A journalist who threw shoes at George Bush is being questioned over the incident amid large crowd rally in Baghdad demanding his immediate release.
Muntadar al Zeidi is facing interrogation over his incentive to interrupt the US President’s news conference in Baghdad.
The reporter, who works for the Al Baghdadia channel which broadcasts from Cairo, is also being tested for alcohol and drugs, officials said.
The reporter jumped up as Bush was speaking alongside the Iraqi Prime minister Nouri al Maliki on Sunday.
He shouted, “It is the farewell kiss, you dog,” before throwing two shoes.
The first hit the US and Iraqi flags behind the leaders after Bush ducked. The second was off target.
The reporter was immediately wrestled to the ground by security guards and marched out of the room.
Zeidi’s employers described him as a “proud Arab and an open-minded man” and said they feared for his safety.
“Al Baghdadia television demands that the Iraqi authorities immediately release their stringer Muntadar al Zeidi, in line with the democracy and freedom of expression that the American authorities promised the Iraqi people,” it said in a statement.
Iraqi officials say Zeidi, who is in his late 20s, is being held at the prime minister’s headquarters.
Meanwhile, thousands of Iraqis have demanded the release of a local TV reporter who threw his shoes at Bush.
Crowds gathered in Baghdad’s Sadr City district, calling for “hero” Muntadar al-Zaidi to be freed from custody. There were similar scenes in Najaf.
Officials at the Iraqi-owned TV station, al-Baghdadiya, also called for the release of their journalist.
Iraqi officials have described the incident as shameful.
A statement released by the government said Mr Zaidi’s actions, which also included him shouting insults at President Bush, “harmed the reputation of Iraqi journalists and Iraqi journalism in general.” The government has demanded an on-air apology from his employer.