Iraqis are paying tribute to the journalist who threw his shoes at then-President George Bush at a statue dedicated to the incident.
A large bronze sculpture of a shoe, accompanied by an ode to journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, was unveiled Thursday in Tikrit.
Zaidi gained instant fame during a Baghdad news conference last month, throwing his shoes to express his anger at the U.S.-led invasion of his country. His act inspired thousands across the Middle East to carry shoes in rallies of solidarity.
He is currently in jail awaiting trial.
Tikrit is the hometown of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. After a Baghdad statue of Saddam was toppled in 2003, Iraqis displayed their disgust with him by hitting the sculpture with shoes and slippers.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters
