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Lawyer: Iraqi shoe-thrower seeks Swiss asylum

A Swiss lawyer working on behalf of the Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush says his client will seek political asylum in Switzerland.
Image: Muntadar al-Zeidi
Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi, who threw his shoes at President Bush during a press conference in Baghdad, is seen in this undated photograph.AP
/ Source: The Associated Press

A Swiss lawyer working on behalf of the Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday that his client will seek political asylum in Switzerland.

Geneva-based lawyer Mauro Poggia said Muntadhar al-Zeidi's life is in danger in Iraq.

Al-Zeidi is currently in an Iraqi jail awaiting trial on charges of assaulting a foreign leader for his Dec. 14 outburst at a news conference in Baghdad.

Poggia said he was contacted by al-Zeidi's family earlier this month. He saiud the journalist has been beaten and tortured in Iraqi detention.

Poggia told The Associated Press on Monday that al-Zeidi would have to go to the Swiss Embassy in Baghdad once he is released to formally file the asylum request.

More on: Shoe-thrower | Iraq