Shoe-Throwing Journo Beaten, Brother Alleges

The journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush during a news conference 2 days ago has been beaten in custody, his brother told the BBC. The brother alleges that Muntadar al-Zaidi, 28, has a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding, but the Iraqi military says the journalist is in good health and denied the claims.

Iraqis continue to mount demonstrations for al-Zaidi’s release while members of the Arab elite have bid on his weapon of protest. The former coach of the Iraqi football team has offered $100,000, while an anonymous Saudi Arabian has offered $10 million. Al-Zaidi’s boss at the al-Baghdadia TV station described him as an “open-minded man” who had “no ties with the former regime.”
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