Baghdad - An Iraqi journalist has been elevated to hero status by some corners of Iraq for his "unprofessional" act of throwing his shoes at US President George W Bush at the latter's farewell visit to Baghdad.

"We congratulate him for his act," said the government critical Iraqi news agency INA on Monday, speaking of journalist Montasser al- Saidi.

The Sunni Council of Religious Scholars spoke of the demonstration as a "historic moment" in which Bush and the world were shown "what Iraqis think of the occupation."

Ziad al-Ajili, chairman of the Iraq's Organization for Press Freedom, however condemned al-Saidi's "unprofessional behaviour."

Al-Saidi, a reporter for al-Baghdadiyia television, also called Bush a "dog" in Arabic, during a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday.

Bush adroitly dodged both the left and the right projectile, which he joked afterwards were "a size ten."

In Arab cultures being attacked with shoes is a sign of profound disrespect, as is being called a dog. (dpa)