A US pastor’s plan to burn Korans on September 11 must be taken seriously because it could cause “profound damage” to US troops and interests around the world, President Barack Obama said today.

Thousands of Afghans were protesting today over suspended plans by a small American church to burn the Koran.

The anti-Muslim leader of a tiny US church said he was lied to and is rethinking his decision to cancel burning copies of the Koran to mark 9/11.