New Yorkers copy Iraqi shoe-throwing protest

"We know a good symbolic act when we see one," said one shoe thrower heaving a pair into a tree in New York City's Union Square Park, historically the scene of populist union marches and demonstrations. "We've actually been searching for a strong symbol to show our disdain for the acts of President Bush in starting this war in Iraq, and this seems to foot the bill."

City officials report that what appeared to be newly-thrown shoes began to appear late last night and early this morning in several spots in the city's Upper West Side and Greenwich Village neighborhoods, as well as in the burrough of Brooklyn in Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights neighborhoods. Throwing shoes at someone is the worst possible insult in the Arab word, according to sources.

TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi, who threw the shoes at Bush at a press conference in Iraq over the weekend as a sign of disrespect, remained in detention on Monday, accused by the Iraqi government of a "barbaric act." The little known Shi'ite reporter is said to have harbored anger against Bush for the thousands of Iraqis who died after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, had previously made headlines only once, when he was briefly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in 2007.

His employer, independent al-Baghdadiya television, demanded his release and demonstrators rallied for him in Sadr City in Baghdad, the southern Shi'ite stronghold of Basra and the holy city of Najaf, where some threw shoes at a U.S. convoy.

"Thanks be to God, Muntazer's act fills Iraqi hearts with pride," his brother, Udai al-Zaidi, told Reuters Television, demanding that the Iraqi government free him.

"I'm sure many Iraqis want to do what Muntazer did. Muntazer used to say all the orphans whose father were killed are because of Bush."

Zaidi shouted "this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," at Bush in a news conference the U.S. president held with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki during an unannounced farewell visit to Baghdad on Sunday.

The journalist then flung one shoe at Bush, forcing him to duck, followed by another, which sailed over Bush's head and slammed into the wall behind him.

Zaidi was then dragged struggling and screaming from the room by security guards and could be heard shouting outside while the news conference continued after momentary mayhem.