Protestors call for TV reporter release

Thousands of protestors yesterday demanded the release of a local TV reporter who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush at a news conference in Baghdad.



Crowds gathered in Baghdad\'s Sadr City district, calling for Muntadar al-Zaidi to be freed from custody.



The protestors have described the reporter as a hero.



Officials at the Iraqi-owned TV station, al-Baghdadiya, called for the release of their journalist, saying he was exercising freedom of expression.



Iraqi officials have described the incident as shameful.



A statement released by the government said Mr Zaidi\'s actions, which also included him shouting insults at President Bush, harmed the reputation of Iraqi journalists and Iraqi journalism in general.



The Iraqi government has demanded an on-air apology from his employer.



Meanwhile, an Iraqi official was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the journalist was being interrogated to determine whether anybody paid him to throw his shoes at President Bush.