US artist cleared over George Bush assassination videogame

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Federal court rules closure of public display featuring the videogame, Virtual Jihadi, was unconstitutional

An Iraqi-American artist has been vindicated after coming under attack for making a videogame in which players have to assassinate George Bush.

Artist Wafaa Bilal created the game Virtual Jihadi last year, in what he claimed was an attempt to "bring attention to the vulnerability of Iraqi civilians".

But the game, which involved an attempted strike on the former US president's life, caused a storm of protest, including accusations that Bilal was encouraging terrorism.

The controversy reached fever pitch when a public display featuring the game in New York was closed down by local authorities amid claims that the organisers had committed a number of infractions.

However, following accusations that the shutdown was an infringement of Bilal's rights, a federal court has ruled that the closure was unconstitutional.

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