Muntazer al-Zaidi was immediately taken out back by Iraqi guards, who promptly beat him up, and only then was he was hauled off to jail. Broken ribs and arm, per his brother. Lots of bruises. Yet, the worst may be done with, fortunately. After all, in the US, such a crime would be a misdemeanor assault, right?
Per the Times of London:
Mr al-Zaidi’s action is a personal embarrassment to the Iraqi Prime Minister, who was next to Mr Bush at the press conference. But, given that 2009 is an election in Iraq, Mr al-Zaidi’s popularity is likely to save him from a long prison sentence.