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Category: News and Politics

Muntadar al-Zeidi stands accused of "aggression against a foreign head of state during an official visit," an offence that carries a prison term of between five and 15 years under Iraqi law.

But the court could convict him of the lesser charge of an "attempted aggression" which carries a prison term of one to five years.

Mr Zeidi, 29, became a hero to many when he threw his shoes at Bush during the US president's surprise visit to Iraq on Dec 14, an action considered a grave insult in the Arab world.

His lawyer had asked that the case be transferred from the central criminal court, which handles terrorism cases, to an ordinary tribunal but the judge refused.

Mr Kenani confirmed that Mr Zeidi's lawyer had lodged a complaint over his treatment in custody and that a letter would be sent to the office of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in order to bring them to justice.

One of Mr Zeidi's brothers, Uday, said that he had been able to visit him in custody for the first time on Sunday and charged that the journalist had been tortured by his captors.

"I met my brother for around an hour. He has been tortured while in detention for 36 hours continuously. He has been hit with iron rods and cables," the brother said.

"There is very severe bleeding in his eye, and he has bruises on his feet and nose, and he was also tortured with electric shocks.