Around the World

IRAQ

Trial Date Postponed For Shoe Thrower

The trial of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush at a news conference in Baghdad to protest U.S. policy in Iraq was postponed Tuesday pending an appeal to a higher court, officials said.

The trial of Muntadar al-Zaidi was scheduled for Wednesday, but a court spokesman said that his attorneys were seeking a lesser charge and that no new date had been set. Zaidi is charged with assault against a foreign head of state.

The little-known TV journalist became an overnight sensation after his gesture Dec. 14. Demonstrations were held in Baghdad and other cities for his release, a Lebanese station offered him a job, and a restaurant in Damascus, Syria, was renamed for him.

His relatives have accused Iraqi authorities of torturing him, saying he has a bruised eye, a missing tooth and cigarette burns. Iraqi officials have denied the allegation.

-- Dalya Hassan

GHANA

Presidency Undecided

Electoral officials on Tuesday delayed announcing results from Ghana's tight presidential ballot, saying instead that the vote will be rerun in a single disputed constituency that could decide the West African nation's next leader.

The Electoral Commission chairman, Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, said the new ballot would be held Friday in Tain in western Ghana, which has about 53,000 registered voters. An electoral commissioner said there had been a shortage of ballots there.

Afari-Gyan said the latest results from Sunday's second-round race showed opposition leader John Atta Mills with 50.13 percent of the vote and ruling party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo with 49.87 percent.