The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former President George W Bush has said Iraqi security forces tortured him with beatings, whippings and electric shocks after his arrest.
Muntadhar al-Zeidi (30) whose act of protest in December 2008 made him a hero around the Arab world, said he now feared for his life and believed that US intelligence agents would chase after him.
"These fearful services, the US intelligence services and its affiliated services, will spare no efforts to track me as an insurgent revolutionary ... in a bid to kill me," he told a news conference at the TV station where he works.
"And here 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.
The reporter's act deeply embarrassed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who was standing beside Mr Bush at a news conference when Mr Zeidi stood up from his chair had hurled his shoes toward the podium.
"This is your farewell kiss, you dog!" he shouted at Mr Bush in Arabic. "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."
For days, the scene was played endlessly on regional and international TV channels.
Mr Bush, who was on his final visit to Iraq as American president, was unhurt but had to duck twice to avoid being hit. Mr Zeidi was wrestled to the ground by journalists and security guards.
Speaking after his release today, the reporter said that he was abused immediately after his arrest and the following day. He said he was beaten with iron bars, whipped with cords and was electrocuted in the back yard of the building in the Green Zone where the news conference was held.
"In the morning, I was left in the cold weather after they splashed me with water," he said. He promised to reveal the names of senior officials in the Iraqi government and army who he said were involved in mistreating him.
He explained that his actions were motivated by the US occupation and said that while he is now free, his country is still "held captive".
"Simply put, what incited me toward confrontation is the oppression that fell upon my people and how the occupation wanted to humiliate my homeland by placing it under its boots," he said.
Mr Zeidi was to have been freed yesterday, but the release was held up because of delays processing paperwork. This morning, one of his lawyers, Karim al-Shujairi, said a judge has signed all the necessary papers, clearing the way for his release after nine months.
AP