Mr Obama said the burning could cause “profound damage around the world” US President Barack Obama has issued a plea for religious tolerance, amid the continuing row over a small church’s plan to burn copies of the Koran.
Terry Jones, the church’s pastor, has put his plans on hold but they have sparked international outrage.
Mr Obama told reporters at the White House: “We have to make sure we don’t start turning on each other.”
He repeated his fears the burning would endanger the lives of US troops and his hopes it would not take place.
“We are all Americans that stand together against those that would do us harm,” said Mr Obama.
“It is absolutely important now for the overwhelming majority of American people to hang on to that thing that is best in us – that is our belief in religious tolerance, our clarity about who our enemies are.”
Mr Obama’s comments came after Mr Jones said he was suspending his plans to stage International Burn a Koran Day on Saturday, the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on New York.
Mr Jones said he made the decision after the group behind a controversial Islamic cultural centre due to be built near Ground Zero agreed to relocate it.
The group has denied making such a deal with Mr Jones.
Mr Obama also denied that his administration’s intervention in the affair had elevated it to greater prominence.
“In the age of the internet it is something that can cause us profound damage around the world, so we’ve got to take it seriously,” he said.
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