Karzai calls for calm, the Taleban calls for violent attacks, and the apologies from America - from the White House on down -are falling on deaf ears in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, where anger over the burning of Qurans is still being demonstrated on the streets..
The price of oil on world markets jumped again Friday amid growing tensions over the West's attempt to halt oil-producing Iran's nuclear program.
As politicians from about 70 countries and organizations are meeting in Tunis to coordinate international efforts to deliver humanitarian relief and political change to Syria, the killings continue.
Details after the break.
American apologies are falling on deaf ears in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, where anger over the burning of Qurans is boiling over.
Thousands of Afghans poured onto the streets following prayers Friday, many chanting “Death to America.”
Afghan officials say at least nine people were killed, seven of them in the western province of Herat, when demonstrations there turned violent. Hundreds protested near the American consulate in Herat, but U.S. officials deny reports that anyone was shot while trying to storm the compound.
There are also reports of injuries from protests in the capital of Kabul. And protesters also took to the streets in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Ghazni. At least one person was reported dead in Baghlan province.
Friday's fatalities bring the death toll from four days of unrest in Afghanistan to at least 22. Two American soldiers were among those killed on Thursday.
Protesters chanting anti-American slogans demonstrated Friday in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, and in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
The demonstrations in Afghanistan have continued despite calls for restraint from NATO and Afghan officials.
On Friday, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John Allen, said the joint coalition and Afghan investigation into the “mishandling of religious materials” at Bagram Air Base continues, with witnesses to Sunday's incident being interviewed.
General Allen issued a statement saying “working together with the Afghan leadership is the only way for us to correct this major error and ensure that it never happens again.”
U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a written apology to Afghan President Hamid Karzai about the desecration of Qurans at Bagram.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul has urged Americans to avoid any unnecessary movement within the South Asian nation.
On Thursday, the Taliban issued a statement calling on Afghans to launch attacks on foreign targets in retaliation for the burning of the Muslim holy book.
Germany on Friday withdrew its troops from a base in northern Afghanistan because of the continuing demonstrations.
Around 50 German soldiers were set to leave the outpost in the Taloqan area of Takhar province by the end of March after security control was transferred to local forces.
But a German military spokesman said the troops left the base Friday and were transferred to Kunduz province after demonstrations in Taloqan.
On Wednesday, President Karzai appealed for calm, saying citizens have the right to protest, but should not resort to violence.
The Afghan delegations assigned to probe the incident have also appealed to the Afghan people to avoid resorting to protests.
Iran
The price of oil on world markets jumped again Friday amid growing tensions over the West's attempt to halt oil-producing Iran's nuclear program.
U.S. crude oil on the New York market rose for the seventh straight trading session, ending the week at $109.77 a barrel, a nine-month high. Brent crude sold on the London market advanced to $125.47 a barrel.
One U.S. oil analyst, Stephen Schork, said the price could continue to increase. He said traders are worried that U.S., Israel and European attempts to block Iran's development of nuclear weaponry “could deteriorate” into a new war in the Mideast. Iran says its nuclear program is designed for civilian purposes and has dismissed concerns expressed by the International Atomic Energy Agency that it is trying to build a nuclear bomb.
Tehran cut oil sales to Britain and France earlier this week. It has threatened to end sales to other European countries in advance of a European Union-led embargo of Iranian oil set to take effect July 1.
The increase in the price of crude oil has boosted the cost of gasoline for U.S. motorists to 96 cents a liter , the highest ever for the month of February. Normally, gasoline prices are much lower during the winter months in the U.S. before heading higher during the summer vacation months.
U.S. President Barack Obama, a Democrat, said this week there are no “quick fixes” for the rising prices. But Republican presidential contenders seeking to oust him in next November's national election have blamed Mr. Obama's energy policies for the increased prices consumers are now paying at the gas pump.
Syria
Representatives of about 70 countries and organizations are meeting in Tunis to coordinate international efforts to deliver humanitarian relief and political change to Syria. At the opening session, officials called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end the violence and allow humanitarian aid to be delivered.
Tunisia's foreign minster, Rafik Abdessalem, welcomed the delegates at this hastily-called meeting, designed to further increase pressure on the Syrian regime.
Representatives from entities as varied as the United States, Yemen and the Holy See were expected to agree to a plan involving humanitarian aid, pressure through sanctions and diplomatic isolation, and support for the Syrian opposition.
Tunisia's new president, Moncef Marzouki, said there should be no armed foreign intervention, but he called for intensified efforts to convince President Assad to end the bombardment of opposition supporters and step down. He called for the help of Syria's main international supporters, who vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution.
“The Russians and the Chinese who have influence on the Syrian leadership [should] urge it not to be stubborn and obstinate by continuing a policy that will only lead to the vandalism and destruction of Syria,” Marzouki said.
The chairman of the Arab League Council of Ministers, Hamad bin Muhammad al Thani of Qatar, called for the formation of an Arab and International force to secure humanitarian aid corridors, but other participants indicated they do not want a confrontation with the Syrian military.
The conference is expected to call on the Assad regime to allow the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid.
In remarks prepared for delivery in the conference's closed session, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed the Arab League transition plan for Syria, which President Assad has ignored, and called for a negotiated political settlement.
She also announced an additional $10 million of funding to help Syrians who have fled the fighting. She said if President Assad does not allow aid to get through, he will have even more blood on his hands, and so will governments that support him.
The Friends of Syria plan to continue their effort, including preparations for a future democratic Syria, with a second meeting planned for Turkey next month, and another in France in April.
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