The trial of Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi man who hurled his shoes at US President George W. Bush, will start on 31 December, the judge investigating his case told AFP on Monday.

"The investigation phase is over and the case has been transferred to the Central Criminal Court," investigating Judge Dhiya al-Kenani said. "The trial will start on Wednesday, 31 December."

The journalist stands accused of "aggression against a foreign head of state during an official visit," an offence that carries a prison term of between five and 15 years under Iraqi law.

But the court could convict him of the lesser charge of an "attempted aggression" which carries a prison term of one to five years.

Zaidi (29), became a hero to many when he threw his shoes at Bush during the US president's surprise visit to Iraq on 14 December, an action considered a grave insult in the Arab world.

He was wrestled to the ground by security guards and is planning to sue over injuries caused, his lawyer said on Sunday.

His lawyer had asked that the case against Zaidi was transferred from the central criminal court, which handles terrorism cases, to an ordinary tribunal but the judge refused.