Family and friends prepare for release of man who threw shoes at Bush

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13 September, 2009 1. Relatives of Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi fixing balloons on walls inside al-Zeidi's apartment 2. Close up of man fixing balloons on wall 3. Balloons on wall over al-Zeidi's picture 4. Men fixing lights and balloons on wall 5. Girl holding al-Zeidi's picture and balloons 6. Al-Zeidi's aunt ululating 7. Children waving flags and balloons 8. Family of al-Zeidi dancing and chanting 9. Poster of al-Zeidi 10. Set up shot of Muntadhar al-Zeidi's brother, Dhargham 11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dhargham al-Zeidi, Brother of Muntadhar al-Zeidi: "May God forbid, if he is not release on time, we will take greater measures than are expected by the authorities, who are detaining Muntadhar." 12. Exterior of apartment tilt down to traffic on road FILE: 14 December, 2008 13. Muntadhar al-Zeidi throwing his shoes at former US President George W. Bush as he gives news conference alongside Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki STORYLINE: The family of an Iraqi journalist imprisoned for hurling his shoes at former US President George W. Bush were on Sunday celebrating ahead of his expected release after nine months in prison. Muntadhar al-Zeidi, who was propelled to iconic status following the shoe throwing incident, will most likely be greeted by a nation where many feel his act of protest encapsulated their own bitterness over the war and US occupation. Parties and music are planned at his family's home in Baghdad, where his brother and relatives were hanging posters of him and fixed balloons on Sunday. Muntadhar al-Zeidi is expected to be released on Monday. His family, however, is worried about his safety and will try to keep celebrations small because of security concerns, his brother Dhargham said last week. But the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who was deeply embarrassed by the outburst, will not be celebrating. The prime minister was standing beside Bush during his final visit to Baghdad as president on December 14 when the journalist shot up from his seat at a press conference and whipped his shoes one by one toward the then US president's head. Bush was unhurt but had to duck twice in a stunning moment captured by television cameras and replayed countless times across the globe. Al-Zeidi was detained on the spot and was convicted of assault in March 2009. Thousands demonstrated for al-Zeidi's release and hailed his gesture, which came in the waning days of the Bush administration. His three-year prison sentence was reduced to one year because he had no prior record and now he is to be released three months early for good behaviour. The 30-year-old al-Zeidi was a virtual unknown working for a local television network, will now have to contemplate his future in light of his new found notoriety. The Iraqi channel headquartered in Cairo has continued to pay his salary during his time in prison and even bought him a new house. Al-Zeidi's family claim he was beaten and tortured in detention. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/34a88185e1c4e4513e37d6371a831954 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork