Iraqi shoe-throwing journalist likely to be released Tuesday

"I received a phone call from my brother who told me he won't be released today because of some delays, most likely they will free him tomorrow," Durgham al-Zaidi told Xinhua.

    Dozens of media workers and fans of Zaidi are gathering outside a complex of judicial and security headquarters at the edge of the abandoned al-Muthanna airport in central Baghdad, waiting for his release.

    Zaidi, the reporter of the Cairo-based al-Baghdadiyah Iraqi satellite channel, has been in custody since Dec. 14 when he threw his shoes at Bush during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad.

    Following the incident, Zaidi has become a hero across the Arab world and gained world fame for hurling his shoes at Bush.

    Initially, Zaidi was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading not guilty of assaulting a foreign leader. The court reduced the term to one year because Zaidi had no criminal history.

    Later, Zaidi got a cut of 25 percent of his sentence due to his good behavior in line with the Iraqi law, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.