Seven killed in Afghan clashes against Quran burning
February 24th, 2012 - 12:22 am ICT by IANS
Kabul, Feb 23 (IANS) Seven people were killed in Afghanistan in continuing clashes between Afghan security forces and protesters over the burning of the Quran by US soldiers, the Afghan interior ministry said Thursday.
The protests began Tuesday when agitated Afghans took to the streets Tuesday shortly after Afghan workers noticed US soldiers at the Bagram airbase dumping books, including four copies of the Quran, in a bin for burning garbage, RIA Novosti reported.
According to the interior ministry, four people were killed in the eastern Afghan province of Parwan, the others were killed near the Bagram base, in the city of Jalalabad and in Logar province.
The US military officials have apologised over the burning .
Earlier Thursday, US President Barack Obama sent an apology letter to Karzai, saying that the books were burnt by mistake.
“The error was inadvertent; I assure you that we will take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, to include holding accountable those responsible,” the letter stated.
The US apologies however did not console Afghans.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan said Thursday that two US soldiers were shot dead in a backlash near the Bagram base by “an individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform.”
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack on US soldiers, NBC News said.
- Four killed in Afghanistan Quran burning protests (Lead) - Feb 22, 2012
- Quran burning protests rage in Afghanistan - Feb 22, 2012
- Obama apologisesn over Quran burning - Feb 23, 2012
- Attack on US airbase in Afghanistan kills two - Mar 06, 2012
- Obama calls US commander over Afghan violence - Feb 26, 2012
- 15 die in Afghan Quran burning protests - Feb 24, 2012
- Malaysians protest Quran burning in Afghanistan - Feb 24, 2012
- U.S. soldier detained after opening fire at Afghan civilians - Mar 11, 2012
- Shooting rampage: US soldier moved out of Afghanistan - Mar 15, 2012
- Britain withdraws civilian staff from Kabul - Feb 26, 2012
- NATO pulls outs forces from Afghan ministry offices (Lead) - Feb 26, 2012
- Five soldiers involved in Afghan Quran burning - Mar 02, 2012
- Blasts rock Kabul as security forces fight Taliban (Lead) - Apr 16, 2012
- Taliban's 'spring offensive' continues in Afghanistan - Apr 16, 2012
- NATO soldier killed in Afghan attack - Jan 22, 2012
Tags: afghans, apologies, apology letter, army uniform, backlash, bagram airbase, barack obama, burning garbage, clashes, interior ministry, international security assistance, jalalabad, kabul, military officials, national army, nbc news, protesters, recurrence, ria novosti, security forces