Afghans protest at Koran burning

22 February 2012 Last updated at 01:43 ET

Anti-American demonstrations are under way in the Afghan cities of Kabul and Jalalabad over the burning of copies of the Koran by Nato troops.

Shots have been fired in Kabul, where protesters have gathered outside a US military base.

On Tuesday, the US commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Allen, apologised after soldiers put copies of the Koran in an incinerator at Bagram airbase.

The charred remains of the books were found by local labourers.

One person was wounded and five detained after troops at Bagram fired rubber bullets at protests on Tuesday.

Reports suggest the Korans were seized because soldiers at the base believed Taliban prisoners were using the books to send messages.

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said he and Gen Allen apologised to the Afghan people "and disapprove of such conduct in the strongest possible terms".

Hundreds of people have gathered outside a military base on the main road linking Kabul and Jalalabad to the east, closing the main trade route, a Kabul police spokesman told the Associated Press.

The US embassy in Kabul has tweeted that it is on lockdown and all travel is suspended.

22 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17123464
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