Afghans protest U.S. church's plan to burn Quran

KABUL - Several hundred Afghans shouted anti-American slogans and "death" to President Barack Obama Monday to protest plans by a Florida church to burn the Islamic holy book the Quran on Saturday to mark the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States that provoked the Afghan war.

Also Monday, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan warned that the church's demonstration "could cause significant problems" for American troops overseas, according to CNN.com.

The Afghan crowd listened to speeches from members of parliament, provincial council deputies, and Islamic clerics who criticized the United States and demanded the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country. Some threw rocks when a U.S. military convoy passed, but speakers shouted at them to stop and told police to arrest anyone who disobeyed.

The Gainesville, Fla.-based Dove World Outreach Center announced plans to burn copies of the Quran on church grounds but has been denied a permit to set a bonfire. The church, which made headlines last year after distributing T-shirts that said "Islam Is of the Devil," has vowed to proceed with the burning.

"We know this is not just the decision of a church. It is the decision of the president and the entire United States," said Abdul Shakoor, a high school student, 18, who said he joined the protest in Kabul after hearing neighborhood gossip about the Quran burning.

The U.S. Embassy issued a statement condemning Dove World Outreach Center's plans, saying Washington was "deeply concerned about deliberate attempts to offend members of religious or ethnic groups."

Protesters who had gathered in front of Kabul's Milad ul-Nabi mosque raised placards and flags emblazoned with slogans calling for the death of Obama, while police looked on. They burned American flags and a cardboard effigy of Dove World Outreach Center's pastor, Terry Jones, before dispersing peacefully.

Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan criticized the church's plan Monday.

"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," Petraeus said in a statement.

Muslims consider the Quran to be the word of God and demand that it, along with any printed material containing its verses or the name of Allah or the Prophet Muhammad, be treated with the utmost respect. Any intentional damage or show of disrespect to the Quran is considered deeply offensive.