Clashes in Afghanistan over 'Quran burning'



Reports of casualties in latest clashes after US apologies over reports copies of Quran were burnt at NATO base.

“These protests that began outside the Bagram base on Tuesday, have now seemed to have spread to other cities across Afghanistan.”

Allegations that NATO troops working inside the base had set fire to copies of the Quran were first reported by a senior government official.

“It is surprising that after all these years American and NATO forces have been here in Afghanistan and all the lessons they have learned about how important it is to treat Islamic material with due respect, this sort of thing is still happening,” our correspondent said.

“That is what causes so much offence here in Afghanistan and adds fuel to the anti-American and anti-foreigner feelings.”

Similar protests have in the past turned violent in Afghanistan, an extremely devout Islamic nation where an insult to the religion carries the death penalty.