Koran Burning Protests Turn Deadly, Rocks Thrown at Troops

Quran Burning Protests Erupt in Afghanistan

VOA News: Thousands of people across Afghanistan took to the streets Friday to protest a U.S. pastor's threats to burn copies of the Quran. 

One man was shot and killed outside a NATO base in the city of Fayzabad in northern Badakhshan province.
Security officials say clashes took place when protesters poured into the streets after traditional prayers marking the start of the Muslim holiday Eid-al-Fitr.  Authorities say some of the protesters broke off to hurl rocks at the NATO base stationed there, prompting clashes with security forces who rushed in to quell the violence.

During a message to mark the start of Eid-al-Fitr, President Hamid Karzai criticized the U.S. pastor's threats to burn the Quran, saying the Quran cannot be harmed because it is in the hearts and minds of all Muslims.

In neighboring Pakistan, hundreds of people in the central city of Multan demonstrated against threats to burn the Quran.  Some burned American flags.

The pastor of the small Florida church at the center of the controversy, Reverend Terry Jones, had originally planned to burn hundreds of copies of the Quran on Saturday to coincide with the ninth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.  He announced Thursday he was suspending the protest, but has not cancelled it outright.  He is seeking a meeting in New York City with the iman behind a proposed Islamic center in there near the site where the World Trade Center once stood.

The pastor's plans have created an international firestorm and prompted top political figures, including President Barack Obama, and religious leaders to issue statements condemning the plans.

The pastor has been repeatedly warned that the burning copies of the Quran could
provoke a backlash of anger and violence and put U.S. soldiers' lives in danger.