Afghans angered at Koran-burning at US base

More than 2,000 angry Afghans protested outside a US airbase after they learned that copies of the Koran, the Muslim holy book, were burned in a pile of rubbish.

The items are thought to have been unintentionally burned as part of routine disposal of rubbish at the base.

“Die, die, foreigners!” the demonstrators shouted. Some fired rifles into the air. Others threw rocks at the gate of the base and set tires ablaze.

The protesters demanded to meet the country’s president over the issue and threatened to demonstrate again if their demand was not met.

US Gen John Allen, the top commander in Afghanistan, apologised and ordered an investigation into the incident, which he said was “notintentional in any way”.

The incident stoked rising anti-foreign sentiment and fuelled the arguments of Afghans who believe foreign troops are not respectful of their culture or religion.

As word of the incident spread, about 100 demonstrators gathered outside the Bagram Air Field, north of Kabul in Parwan province. As the crowd grew, so did the outrage.

Ahmad Zaki Zahed, chief of the provincial council, said US military officials took him to a burn pit on the base where 60 to 70 books, including Korans, were recovered. The books were used by detainees once incarcerated at the base, he said.

“Some were all burned. Some were half-burned,” Mr Zahed said, adding that he did not know exactly how many Korans had been burned.

Mr Zahed said five Afghans working at the pit told him that the religious books were rubbish that two coalition soldiers transported to the pit in a truck on Monday night. When they realised the books were in the rubbish, the labourers worked to recover them, he said.