New trial date set for Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at Bush

A judicial spokesman says a new trial date has been set for the Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at former-US President George W Bush.

The spokesman for the Iraqi Higher Judicial Council Abdul-Sattar Bayrkdar says Muntadhar al-Zeidi will face the court on February 19 on a charge of assaulting a foreign leader.

Al-Zeidi has been in custody since the December 14 outburst at Bush’s joint news conference with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

He had been due to face a trial in December on a charge of assaulting a foreign leader but his defence team won a delay. The defence wanted to reduce the charges to simply insulting Bush.

But Bayrkdar says the charge of assaulting a foreign leader will stand.  

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