Afghanistan: Five killed in second Koran protest

At least five civilians have been killed in southern Afghanistan during a protest against a US church’s burning of the Muslim holy book.

Zalmai Ayubi, spokesman for the provincial governor of Kandahar, says 46 others were wounded when the crowd of hundreds of protesters became violent. He says the protesters tried to burn some vehicles and shops.

It is not clear who killed and injured the protesters, who reportedly numbered several thousand, but some were shot.

On Friday, Afghans protesting the Quran burning stormed a UN compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, leaving seven foreigners dead.

The topic of Koran burning stirred outrage among millions of Muslims and others worldwide after the Reverend Terry Jones’ church, Dove Outreach Centre, threatened to destroy a copy of the holy book last year.

The pastor backed down but the church in Gainesville, Florida, went through with the burning last month.

The United Nations Security Council condemned “in the strongest terms” the deadly attack on the UN compound in northern Afghanistan.

UN peacekeeping chief Alain LeRoy said seven UN personnel were killed – three international staff and four Gurkha soldiers – and others were injured. He said five demonstrators were also killed.