Shoe hurled as Chinese PM speaks

by: Angela Hager

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was visiting the Cambridge in the United Kingdom to give a speech on the global economy.

A protester decided to show what he really thought of the PM by removing his shoe and throwing it. According to reports, the shoe landed about a meter (3 feet) from Mr. Wen.

Police confirmed that the protester had been arrested on suspicion of a public order offense. However, not every detail is clear. One news agency is reporter that the protester shouted "How can the university prostrate itself with this dictator," and another reported that the audience shouted "shame on you!" as police escorted him out.

Many protests about Chinese human rights violations took place during Mr. Wen's visit.

Mr. Wen is on a European Tour, and still has stops in Germany, Spain, and Belgium. In his visit to the UK, he talked with Prime Minister Gordon Brown about trade between the two countries and battling the economic crisis.

The incident is similar to when George W. Bush had a shoe thrown at him in Iraq.