Libya honors Iraqi shoe-throwing reporter

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Libya honors Iraqi shoe-throwing reporter

A Libyan group led by the daughter of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi gives a bravery award to the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at president Bush.

"Wa Atassimou group has taken the decision to give Muntazer al-Zaidi the courage award ... because what he did represents a victory for human rights across the world," the charity group, headed by Aicha Gaddafi, the daughter of Libian leader Muammar Gaddafi, said in a statement on Monday.

The group also urged the Iraqi government to release television reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi after he was detained on Sunday for hurling his shoes at Bush and calling the president a 'dog'.

Aicha Gaddafi, daughter of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi
The Libyan group said the Iraqi authorities should honor the journalist for his actions.

Meanwhile, Iraqi prime minister's media advisor, Yasin Majeed, affirmed that Zaidi has been accused by the Iraqi government of a 'barbaric and ignominious act'. He will be tried on charges of insulting the Iraqi state.

Muntadar al-Zeidi is currently being held for questioning by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's guards and is being tested whether he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time.

The reporter is also being interrogated over whether anybody paid him to throw his shoes at Bush during a news conference on Sunday.

Arabs across the Middle East have hailed the 'shoe-throwing' as a proper send-off to the unpopular US president.