Baghdad - A court in Baghdad on Monday delayed the release of Iraqi shoe-throwing journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi, jailed nine months for hurling his footware at then-US president George W Bush, his employer confirmed. Al-Baghdadia television channel said the Karkh court of first instance in Baghdad had postponed the journalist's release until Tuesday, but had not stated why.
Celebrations had been planned in the capital to greet al-Zaidi's release. The journalist became a hero in Iraq and across the Arab world for throwing his shoes at Bush at a December news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
"This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqis, you dog," he shouted.
Since his imprisonment on charges of assaulting a foreign leader, foreign leaders have offered al-Zaidi gifts and honours.
The emir of Qatar promised to give him a golden horse. Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi said he would give him the Medal of Honour, Libya's highest decoration, al-Baghdadia's website reported.
Earlier on Monday, al-Zaidi's brother angrily told Qatar's al- Jazeera news channel that security authorities had offered no specific reasons for the delay.
He lashed out at Nuri al-Maliki's government for its "procrastination," accusing it of being afraid al-Zaidi "will tell what happened to him in prison, giving a bad reputation to al- Maliki before elections."
