MORE than a month has passed since an Iraqi television reporter threw his shoes at US President George Bush during a Baghdad news conference and called the outgoing US leader a dog.

The journalist, Muntather al-Zaidi, 29, who was immediately arrested, has been allowed only two visitors since then and none since December 21, according to those close to him.

His family and his lawyer say that they do not know where he is being held and that they are gravely concerned about his wellbeing because they have not been allowed to speak with him by telephone.

On Thursday, Dhiyaa al-Saadi, Zaidi's lawyer, said he had recently seen medical records that were part of Zaidi's court file, which he said added credence to the journalist's claim that he had been beaten and tortured after his arrest by the security detail of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on December 14.

Mr Saadi said two medical reports conducted by government physicians within a week of Zaidi's arrest described bruising that covered the reporter's face and body, but was especially severe on his legs and arms; a missing tooth; a gash on the bridge of his nose; and what appeared to be a burn mark on his ear.