People love the shoe thrower

Across the Arab world, people are cheering the reporter who threw his shoes at Bush. Newspapers are covering this as top news, and there are huge rallies of support in Iraq.

Per the BBC, his brother claims he was beaten in custody.

Muntadar al-Zaidi has suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury, his older brother, Dargham, told the BBC.

And, despite Maliki's personal desires to see him locked up (for two years,) Maliki is also a politician facing elections in Iraq. Al Zaidi has become a symbol, a powerful symbol.

According to unconfirmed newspaper reports, the former coach of the Iraqi national football team, Adnan Hamad, has offered $100,000 (£65,000) for the shoes, while a Saudi citizen has apparently offered $10m (£6.5m).

The NYTimes has a good roundup of how well this has been received. This guy is becoming a folk hero.