This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/22/quran-protests-us-embassy-lockdown

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Qur'an protesters attack Kabul compound housing foreigners Qur'an protesters attack Kabul compound housing foreigners
(about 3 hours later)
Afghan protestors armed with stones and molotov cocktails have attacked a military base and a compound housing foreign workers in Kabul, in a second day of violence over the burning of copies of the Qur'an by foreign forces. Afghan protesters armed with stones and molotov cocktails have attacked a military base and a compound housing foreign workers in Kabul, in a second day of violence over the burning of copies of the Qur'an by foreign forces.
At least 16 demonstrators and one police officer were injured as enraged crowds took to the streets in central and eastern Afghanistan, shouting "Death to America" and "Death to Obama".At least 16 demonstrators and one police officer were injured as enraged crowds took to the streets in central and eastern Afghanistan, shouting "Death to America" and "Death to Obama".
Police in Kabul used water cannon and fired into the air to control the demonstrators, who were attacking shops and smashing car windows. Security guards in the compound that came under attack also opened fire with automatic rifles. Police in Kabul used water cannon and fired guns into the air to deter the demonstrators, who were attacking shops and smashing car windows. Security guards in the compound that came under attack also opened fire with automatic rifles.
A military base was attacked on the outskirts of the capital.A military base was attacked on the outskirts of the capital.
Eleven men were treated for gunshot wounds in Kabul, said Kabir Amiri, spokesman for the city's hospitals. Another five people were injured in eastern Jalalabad, said Ahmad Zia Ahmadzai, spokesman for the provincial governor.Eleven men were treated for gunshot wounds in Kabul, said Kabir Amiri, spokesman for the city's hospitals. Another five people were injured in eastern Jalalabad, said Ahmad Zia Ahmadzai, spokesman for the provincial governor.
The demonstrations began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after Afghan workers at the sprawling Bagram airbase spotted copies of the Qur'an among waste paper sent for incineration.The demonstrations began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after Afghan workers at the sprawling Bagram airbase spotted copies of the Qur'an among waste paper sent for incineration.
They extinguished the flames and left the base with some of the damaged books, which had been taken from prisoners in a detention centre at Bagram.They extinguished the flames and left the base with some of the damaged books, which had been taken from prisoners in a detention centre at Bagram.
A military official, who asked not to be named, said the books had been removed from the jail library because some had added inscriptions that appeared to be in use to "facilitate extremist communications" or were extremist "in and of themselves".A military official, who asked not to be named, said the books had been removed from the jail library because some had added inscriptions that appeared to be in use to "facilitate extremist communications" or were extremist "in and of themselves".
Nato-led forces rushed to apologise for the burning, which the commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, General John Allen, described as "not intentional".Nato-led forces rushed to apologise for the burning, which the commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, General John Allen, described as "not intentional".
But damage to the Qur'an is a highly sensitive issue in Afghanistan and protests began almost immediately.But damage to the Qur'an is a highly sensitive issue in Afghanistan and protests began almost immediately.
"When the Americans insult us to this degree, we will join the insurgents," said Ajmal, an 18-year-old protester in Kabul told Reuters news agency. "When the Americans insult us to this degree, we will join the insurgents," said Ajmal, an 18-year-old protester in Kabul told Reuters.
The city's police chief, Ayoub Salangi, came to the most violent protest in the city to appeal for calm. "I am with you, please cool your temper, I am with you," he told the crowd, but they turned on him and started throwing stones at his car. The city's police chief, Ayub Salangi, came to the most violent protest in the city to appeal for calm. "I am with you, please cool your temper, I am with you," he told the crowd, but they turned on him and started throwing stones at his car.
Salangi later told the Guardian that one officer had been injured by protestors who threw stones. Salangi later told the Guardian that one officer had been injured by protesters who threw stones.
There was a second protest near Kabul university, and three demonstrations – not all violent – in eastern Jalalabad city. Hundreds of Afghans also marched in the streets of central Parwan and Logar provinces, Reuters said.There was a second protest near Kabul university, and three demonstrations – not all violent – in eastern Jalalabad city. Hundreds of Afghans also marched in the streets of central Parwan and Logar provinces, Reuters said.
The US embassy ordered all staff to stay inside their compound, and the UN and many other embassies and foreign aid groups halted movements across Kabul.The US embassy ordered all staff to stay inside their compound, and the UN and many other embassies and foreign aid groups halted movements across Kabul.
"The embassy is on lockdown; all travel suspended. Please, everyone, be safe out there," the embassy's official Twitter feed said."The embassy is on lockdown; all travel suspended. Please, everyone, be safe out there," the embassy's official Twitter feed said.
The US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, also issued an apology for "inappropriate treatment" of copies of the Qur'an at the Bagram airbase to try to contain fury over the incident.The US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, also issued an apology for "inappropriate treatment" of copies of the Qur'an at the Bagram airbase to try to contain fury over the incident.
Seven foreign UN workers and at least 13 Afghans were killed during protests that raged across Afghanistan for three days in April 2011 after a US pastor burned a Qur'an in Florida.Seven foreign UN workers and at least 13 Afghans were killed during protests that raged across Afghanistan for three days in April 2011 after a US pastor burned a Qur'an in Florida.