What's the highest price you'd pay for a pair of shoes ??

[orangeman]

How much would you pay for these shoes ?


The brother of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush has said that the reporter has been beaten in custody.


Mr Zaidi threw his shoes at Mr Bush at a news conference, calling him "a dog".

Meanwhile, offers to buy the shoes are being made around the Arab world, reports say.

Dargham al-Zaidi told the BBC that his brother deliberately bought Iraqi-made shoes, which were dark brown with laces. They were bought from a shop on al-Khyam street, a well-known shopping street in central Baghdad.


The shoes themselves are said to have attracted bids from around the Arab world.

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).

Any offers

[Yes I Would]

Im in desperate need for a nice pair of brown brogs for my upcoming wedding..
Not sure ill be matching the $10 million snoops for them though.

[full back]

Forgot about your big day Yes I Would
When are you outting the handcuffs on?

[theskull1]

Can see this type of thing catching on big time. Our MLA's better be wearing their leather proof vests.

[orangeman]

Bush 'shoe maker' hit by demand 

Ramazan Baydan insists his firm made the shoe thrown at President Bush
A Turkish shoe firm says it has had to take on 100 extra staff to cope with a surge in orders after an Iraqi threw shoes at US President Bush.

Istanbul-based Baydan Shoes claims it made the shoes and says it now has tens of thousands of orders from around the world - including from the US and Iraq.

The shoe was called Model 271 but has been renamed Bush shoe, the firm said.

However, the brother of shoe-throwing journalist Muntader al-Zaidi says he believes the shoes were Iraqi-made.

Durgham al-Zaidi criticised people he said were trying to exploit his brother's actions for commercial gain.

"The Syrians claim the shoes were made in Syria and the Turks say they made them. Some say he bought them in Egypt. But as far as I know, he bought them in Baghdad and they were made in Iraq," he told the AFP news agency.

It is difficult to verify exactly where the shoe is from as Mr Zaidi has not been seen in public since the incident eight days ago, and the judge in the case says the shoes were destroyed during security checks.

Trial date

But Oner Bogatekin, Baydan Shoes' export representative, said the staff recognised their handiwork from the news reports.

"We saw it on videos and also in newspapers. We have been producing this shoe for 10 years, so know it very well and we can recognise them anywhere," he told the BBC.



A reporter shouts "this is the end" as he throws his shoes at President Bush

He said there had been a four-fold interest in the shoe - now dubbed Bush shoes or Bye Bye Bush shoes - and had to take on 100 extra workers to cope with the demand.

According to the shop's owner, Ramazan Baydan, a US firm has ordered 18,000 pairs, a further 15,000 pairs are destined for Iraq and a British distributor has asked to be the firm's European sales representative.

Mr Bogatekin said the firm was pleased with the publicity it was getting, but insisted the shoes would not have done President Bush any serious harm.

"Actually, they are not heavy shoes so they wouldn't hurt him," he said.

Muntadar al-Zaidi has been hailed a hero by some for throwing his shoes at President Bush during the Baghdad news conference on 14 December. The action is seen as a grave insult in the Arab world.

He called Mr Bush a "dog", and said he was acting for "widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq".

He is due to face trial on 31 December accused of "aggression against a foreign head of state", which carries a jail sentence of up to 15 years.

[orangeman]

Shoe hurled as Chinese PM speaks 
The moment a protester throws a shoe at the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, at Cambridge University
A protester has thrown a shoe at Wen Jiabao during a speech at Cambridge University and called the Chinese prime minister a "dictator".

The shoe landed about a metre away from Mr Wen and the protester, a young man, was then removed by security guards.

Mr Wen, who earlier signed a series of trade agreements with Gordon Brown on the final day of a three-day UK visit, described the incident as "despicable".

Protests have taken place about human rights and Tibet during his visit.
Protests

Five people were arrested in London on Sunday after trying to approach Mr Wen.

According to eye-witnesses, Mr Wen was interrupted near the end of a speech he was giving in Cambridge on the global economy.

According to the Press Association, the shoe was thrown from the back of the hall and landed "well away" from Mr Wen.

Reuters reported that the protester urged the audience to challenge the Chinese prime minister, shouting "how can the university prostrate itself with this dictator?"

Mr Wen has faced protests throughout his UK visit
But AFP reported that fellow members of the audience shouted "shame on you" as he was escorted out of the auditorium.

Police later confirmed that the man had been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.

As Mr Wen arrived to deliver the speech, he was met by both pro-Chinese supporters and people demonstrating against China's human rights record in its own country and in Tibet.

The incident was similar to an event last month when US President George W Bush was forced to duck to avoid shows thrown at him during a visit to Iraq.

'Determination'

Earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for greater collaboration on trade between the UK and China during talks with Mr Wen at Downing Street.

Mr Brown said they shared a determination to reverse the economic downturn and Mr Wen said "concerted efforts" were needed to "address the common challenges that we face".

Mr Wen told said the economic crisis showed the "dangers of a totally unregulated market".

He added: "Only by working together, only by making a concerted effort, can we address the common challenges we face."

Mr Brown said the 4 trillion yuan (£400bn) fiscal stimulus announced by the Beijing authorities in November would help British exports to China, particularly in low-carbon technologies.

"The strength of the relationship between China and Britain will be a pivotal force in helping us through the downturn and a powerful driving force behind our future growth and prosperity."

Mr Wen met Conservative leader David Cameron for 45 minutes on Sunday to talk about topics including the economic crisis and fighting climate change.

Mr Cameron raised human rights issues with the Chinese leader and emphasised the importance of "greater participation" in Beijing's political process.

Mr Wen's European tour includes visits to Germany, Spain, and Brussels.

[Square Ball]

they were a pair of heeled and tipped red Oxfords, the police are currently looking for a man with a West Belfast accent

[ziggysego]

For a moment there, I thought maggie started this thread.

[orangeman]

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former US President George W Bush says he was tortured by senior government officials while in jail.

Shortly after his release from nine months in a Baghdad prison, Muntadar al-Zaidi demanded an apology - and said he would name the officials later.

Iraqi officials told the BBC his claims should be investigated.

His protest last December made him a hero for many Arabs, but some Iraqis still regard it as unforgivably rude.

He was convicted of assaulting a foreign leader and initially sentenced to three years in jail.

But he had the term reduced to 12 months on appeal and was released three months early for good behaviour.

'Insurgent revolutionary'

After his release on Tuesday he told journalists: "I am free again, but my homeland is still a prison."


MUNTADAR AL-ZAIDI

Worked for Egypt-based broadcaster since 2005
Was kidnapped by gunmen while reporting in Baghdad in 2007
Detained by US troops for a night in 2008, his brother says, before they freed him and apologised


In pictures: Fashion of shoe-ing
In the shoe thrower's footsteps
Profile: Shoe-throwing reporter 
Reuters news agency reported he was slurring his speech because of a missing tooth.

He went on to say he had suffered beatings, whippings, electric shocks and simulated drowning at the hands of officials and guards.

"At the time that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said on television that he could not sleep without being reassured on my fate... I was being tortured in the worst ways, beaten with electric cables and iron bars," he said.

He demanded an apology from Mr Maliki and said he would name the officials who tortured him in due course.

He also said he feared US intelligence services regarded him as an "insurgent revolutionary" and would "spare no effort" in a bid to kill him.

"I want to warn all my relatives and people close to me that these services will use all means to trap and try to kill and liquidate me either physically, socially or professionally," he said.



Zaidi shouts "this is the end" as he throws his shoes at President Bush

His allegations of abuse mirror claims made earlier by his family, who said he had been beaten, suffering a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding.

The Iraqi military earlier denied the allegations, but following Zaidi's news conference Sami Al Askari, an adviser to Mr Maliki, said his torture claims should be investigated.

'Goodbye kiss'

Zaidi's family has been preparing to throw a party for him.

He has reportedly received offers of money, jobs and even marriage from across the Arab world.

His relatives say he was offered a golden horse by the Emir of Qatar.


  I've seen a lot of weird things during my presidency, and this may rank up there as one of the weirdest

George W Bush
When news of his release filtered through to his family's home in Baghdad, there was an eruption of celebration, with women dancing and singing.

The shoe-throwing incident came during a joint news conference between Mr Bush and Mr Maliki.

As he threw the shoes, Zaidi shouted: "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog.

"This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

In an interview afterwards, Mr Bush insisted he did not harbour any ill feeling about it.

"It was amusing - I've seen a lot of weird things during my presidency, and this may rank up there as one of the weirdest," he said.

[The Real Laoislad]

Im in desperate need for a nice pair of brown brogs for my upcoming wedding..
Not sure ill be matching the $10 million snoops for them though.

Brown shoes for your wedding  What colour is your suit?

[redhugh]

Can really see this whole shoe throwing catching on in western culture. Anyone fancy heading up to stormont with a sack of clogs......good sturdy heavy clogs.....with maybe a rusty nail or two sticking out of them.