The protesters burnt an effigy of Pastor Terry Jones The top US commander in Afghanistan has warned that troops’ lives will be in danger if an American church sticks to its plan to burn copies of the Koran.
Gen David Petraeus said the action could cause problems “not just in Kabul, but everywhere in the world”.
Pastor Terry Jones, of the Dove World Outreach Centre, has said he will make a bonfire this week on the anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Hundreds of Afghans have protested against the plan in the capital, Kabul.
“It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems”
Gen David Petraeus
The US embassy in Kabul issued a statement condemning the plans by the non-denominational Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville, Florida.
“It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort,” Gen Petraeus said in a statement. “It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems.
“Not just here, but everywhere in the world, we are engaged with the Islamic community,” he added.
Lt Gen William Caldwell, the commander of the Nato training mission in Afghanistan, told CNN: “It’s their holy book, so when somebody says that they’re going to destroy that and cause a desecration to something that’s very sacred to them, it’s already stirred up a lot of discussion and concern amongst the people.
“We very much feel that this could jeopardise the safety of our men and women that are serving over here.”
In Kabul on Monday, about 500 protesters chanted “long live Islam” and “death to America” as they denounced the planned Koran-burning and set fire to an effigy of Mr Jones.
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