By Ines Bel Aiba

BAGHDAD, Feb 19, 2009 (AFP) - With his family cheering from the benches, the Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi arrived in court on Thursday to recount the extraordinary day when he threw his shoes at an American president.

With an Iraqi flag around his neck and stony-faced throughout, the 30-year-old gave a lucid account of the notorious incident that propelled him to fame, but which could ultimately culminate in a 15-year prison sentence.

"Imam Ali," his supporters shouted as Zaidi appeared, an appeal to one of the principal figures in Shiite Islam, willing help from a higher power.

About 150 people, with a dozen left standing, had packed into the Central Criminal Court to hear the reporter describe his encounter with George W. Bush, the former US president.

In a bizarre early exchange, the judge informed Zaidi that two previously unknown lawyers wanted to help him, a gesture that delayed proceedings for several minutes, but which the journalist politely refused.

"Thank you very much, I am very grateful, but I already have my defence team," of 25 lawyers, he said.

"Tell me what you have to say Muntazer," the main trial judge Abdulamir Hassan al-Rubai then calmly asked, bringing a hush to the gallery, who up until then had been whispering among themselves.

"I want to give back to the Iraqis their pride in any way except by using weapons," Zaidi said.

"I had the feeling that the blood of innocent people was dropping on my feet during the time that he (Bush) was smiling and coming to say bye-bye to Iraq with a dinner."

About 30 of the reporter's relatives had arrived at the court by 7.30 am (0430 GMT), two-and-a-half hours before the trial actually started. One of Zaidi's nephews, a six-year-old boy named Haidar, held a poster of his uncle inscribed with the message: "Free the one who gave pride back to Iraqis."

In the courtroom, Zaidi, wearing a khaki-coloured jacket and black shirt, and sporting several days' stubble, then recalled the feelings that led him to throw his shoes at Bush, who was addressing a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki when the incident happened on December 14.

"I saw only Bush and it was like something black in my eyes," Zaidi said.

"After Bush started speaking about 'victory and achievement in Iraq' with an icy smile... I did what I did."

Judge Rubai then asked Zaidi if he realised that his actions amounted to an assault on a foreign president, stating that Bush was a guest of the prime minister and was on an official visit.

"We as Arabs are proud of our sense of hospitality, but Bush and his soldiers have been here for six years," he said.

"Guests before they come, knock the door and then enter, but he (Bush) entered silently and sneakily."

Zaidi, who works for the private Al-Baghdadia television channel, was abducted by insurgents during the sectarian strife that engulfed Iraq after the 2003 invasion, and made plain his feelings about the US-led operation.

"Bush entered by force and that means he is an occupier," he said.

Thursday's eagerly awaited trial was brought to a halt after just 90 minutes and adjourned until March 12 to seek clarification on whether Bush's trip to Iraq was an official visit.

One of Zaidi's brothers, however, was furious at Thursday's outcome. "It is a farce, a political process," Uday Zaidi said. "The judge did not let him talk about the torture," he added, a reference to the family's claims that the journalist has been abused while in custody awaiting trial.

iba/adm/kir

Copyright AFP 2009.