BAGDAD: Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi reporter who shot to fame when he threw his shoes at then US president George W Bush, is set to be released from jail on Monday, his lawyer said on Saturday.

“I do not think there are any obstacles to his being freed, and I have great hope that he will be released on Monday,” Dia al-Saadi said.

The “defence team has presented a petition for (Zaidi’s) release to the Iraqi central criminal court, which has handed an order for his release to the prison administration. All the legal conditions have been fulfilled.” A little-known reporter for a small, privately owned television channel, Zaidi stunned the world on December 14 when he hurled his footwear at Bush, who was on a farewell visit to the country he ordered to be invaded and occupied six years ago. His actions at a news conference won him admiration across the Arab world, with offers of plum jobs, marriage, and even a career in politics flooding in.

Zaidi was senten-ced to three years for assaulting a foreign head of state, but had that reduced to a year on appeal. He is being released early because of good behaviour.