BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN)  -- The trial of an Iraqi journalist charged with throwing his shoes at U.S. President George Bush has been postponed, Iraq's Council of Ministers and one of the journalist's lawyers said Tuesday.



Amman protesters support Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist held for throwing his shoes at President Bush.



Muntadhir Al-Zaidi was due to go on trial Wednesday, but the Criminal Court postponed it pending an appeal filed by his lawyers with the Federal Court of Appeal, a spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council, Abdul Sattar Bayrakdar, said.



Dhiya al-Saadi, who leads Al-Zaidi's 25-member legal team, confirmed the postponement.



Al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at Bush two weeks ago during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad.



Neither shoe hit the president, and others in the room quickly knocked Al-Zaidi to the ground before security officials arrested him.



Many Iraqis hail Al-Zaidi, who faces a prison term if convicted, as a hero. More than 1,000 lawyers have volunteered to defend him, al-Saadi said.



The lawyers' appeal asked the Federal Court to change Al-Zaidi's case from assaulting Bush to insulting him. If Al-Zaidi is convicted of the former, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, al-Saadi said.



The lawyers are trying to persuade the appeals court that Al-Zaidi did not want to harm Bush by throwing the shoes, but simply wanted to insult him. By tradition, throwing a shoe is the most insulting act in the Arab world.



Al-Saadi said he met with his client several days ago but was having difficulty meeting with him again. He did not give the reason he was not allowed to see Al-Zaidi but said many lawyers have trouble meeting with detainees in Iraqi or U.S. custody.



It will take at least two weeks for the court to set a new date for Al-Zaidi's trial, legal expert Tariz Harab said.



CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report.
When was the trial due to start? What is the name of the journalist who threw a shoe at Bush? Who faces jail? Trial of who is delayed? What happened to the trial? Whose trial is delayed? What country is journalist Muntadhir Al-Zaidi from? Who faces jail if convicted? How long before the new trials date? What did an Iraqi journalist throw at President Bush?
Wednesday, Muntazer al-Zaidi, Muntazer al-Zaidi, Muntazer al-Zaidi, has been postponed, Muntazer al-Zaidi, Iraq Muntadhir Al-Zaidi at least two weeks his shoes
question: When was the trial due to start?, answer: Wednesday, | question: What is the name of the journalist who threw a shoe at Bush?, answer: Muntazer al-Zaidi, | question: Who faces jail?, answer: Muntazer al-Zaidi, | question: Trial of who is delayed?, answer: Muntazer al-Zaidi, | question: What happened to the trial?, answer: has been postponed, | question: Whose trial is delayed?, answer: Muntazer al-Zaidi, | question: What country is journalist Muntadhir Al-Zaidi from?, answer: Iraq | question: Who faces jail if convicted?, answer: Muntadhir Al-Zaidi | question: How long before the new trials date?, answer: at least two weeks | question: What did an Iraqi journalist throw at President Bush?, answer: his shoes