Iraqi leaders decry shoe-tossing reporter

BAGHDAD, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The Iraqi government denounced the behavior of an Iraqi television reporter who threw two shoes at U.S. President George Bush in Baghdad.

The government, in a news release comdemning the reporter's "barbaric and heinous" act, called on al-Baghdadiya Television to apologize, the Kuwaiti new agency KUNA reported Monday.

"While we condemn such act, we call on the institution to which this person belongs to offer a public apology for such a behavior that has blemished the reputation of Iraqi journalists and the press in general," the statement said.

The journalist threw two shoes at Bush Sunday during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad. Neither shoe hit Bush.

After the second shoe was tossed, security forces escorted the reporter, Muntadar al-Zaidi, from the room. Al-Zaidi also hurled insults at Bush, roughly translated as "This is a farewell kiss, dog," media outlets reported.

Al-Zaidi's behavior "does not represent the views of Iraqi journalists. It is only indicative of a personal attitude," an official with the media watchdog group Hadi Glu Marei told KUNA.

Bush flew unannounced to Iraq and Afghanistan during the weekend.