The Iraqi consulate in Athens on Thursday retracted its confirmation that the journalist jailed for throwing his shoes at George W. Bush had arrived in Greece, saying it was unaware of his whereabouts. TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi, who says he was tortured while in prison, was freed on Tuesday after being jailed for hurling the shoes at Bush last December during a Baghdad press conference shortly before he stood down as US president.
The consulate had confirmed Zaidi's arrival in Greece but said later Thursday that this was not the case, blaming language problems.
"We have no information," consul Ahmed Nadiim told AFP, adding that as Zaidi was travelling as a private individual Iraqi officials were not expected to have any contact with him.
His employer, Al-Baghdadia TV station in Baghdad, and a family member said on Tuesday Zaidi had left Iraq for Syria and would travel on to Greece for medical treatment.
Zaidi said he suffered electric shocks and simulated drowning while in custody. His cousin, Haidar al-Zaidi, has said the reporter was to be treated in Greece "because he was injected with unknown chemical drugs and he suffers from a continuous headache."
The newsman was initially sentenced to three years for assaulting a foreign head of state, but had this reduced to one year on appeal. His sentence was cut further for good behaviour.
The Greek Foreign Ministry and police said they had no information on Zaidi's arrival.
01.12.2011
