Iraqi Shoe-Thrower a-Zaidi Launches Aid Foundation

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Iraqi shoe-thrower launches aid foundation

(AFP)
GENEVA — An Iraqi journalist who was jailed for throwing his shoes at US President George W. Bush on Monday launched a foundation to help Iraqi widows and orphans.

"I am making an appeal on behalf of my people and I announce the launch of a humanitarian foundation for my people," Muntazer al-Zaidi told journalists in Geneva. "I am planning to help orphans, widows and the deported in priority. We want to build hospitals, medical centres, a centre to replace limbs of people handicapped by this war," he added.

A website has been created for the Al Zaidi Foundation, which already has a capital of 50,000 Swiss francs (33,021 euros/49,387 dollars), although Zaidi would only say that the funds came "from friends."

Zaidi criticised the war in Iraq, calling on the international community to bring those responsible for the war "led by George Bush" to justice.

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Zaidi had filed a claim for asylum in Switzerland before deciding to withdraw it. He arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday on a tourist visa.