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Two dead as Afghan Koran protests rage for fourth day Afghanistan Koran protests: Eight die on fourth day
(about 1 hour later)
Two people have been killed in the Afghan city of Herat as protests continue for a fourth consecutive day over the burning of Korans by American troops at a US air base. At least eight people have died as protests continue for a fourth day in Afghanistan over the burning of Korans by American troops at a US air base.
Gunfire broke out near the US consulate in the city, a security official said. Seven people were killed in the western province of Herat, officials said.
Crowds are heading towards the centre of Kabul and protests are taking place in several other Afghan cities. Another protester died in the Pul-e-Khumri district of Baghlan province when a reconstruction office came under attack.
On Thursday US President Barack Obama apologised to the Afghan people, saying the incident was a "genuine mistake". On Thursday US President Barack Obama apologised to the Afghan people, saying the burnings were a "genuine mistake".
In a letter to President Hamid Karzai, Mr Obama expressed his "deep regret". Mr Obama's letter, delivered by the US ambassador to Afghanistan, assured the Afghan president that US authorities would question all those responsible. On Friday, a group of demonstrators tried to attack the US consulate in Herat, burning police vehicles and leaving several officers injured, security sources told the BBC.
On Thursday at least eight people died, including two US soldiers, as violence flared in the north and east. Three people were killed in the city, with another four reported dead in other parts of Herat province.
Authorities seem to have acted early to try to prevent Friday's protests from getting close to sensitive installations, the BBC's Orla Guerin in Kabul reports. Thousands are out in Herat and there are demonstrations in several places around the city. There are different groups out in force and some of the protests have turned violent. At the hospital we saw one body, and several other people who had been injured in the violence.
Protests have been reported around the country on Friday: At least one group were trying to get into the US consulate, in the north of the city. We heard gunfire from security forces as they tried to stop the angry crowd.
  • Five separate groups are heading to different locations in Kabul, including Nato headquarters and the US Embassy, police say, with one protestor reported wounded when police fired into the air. Some 300 people are heading towards Kabul's main military training centre, security sources told the BBC
  • In Baghlan, where about 1,000 people are on the streets, there are reports of gunfire and stone-throwing
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  • In Ghazni, 600 demonstrators have gathered outside the governor's office shouting "death to Obama"
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  • About 300 protesters have turned out in Kunduz province
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  • Several thousand people protesting in Nangarhar have blocked a highway
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  • A demonstration in Gardez, capital of Paktia province, is now reported to be over
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  • A demonstration has been reported in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif
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The protests began after Friday prayers and people who had gathered in all the mosques in different part of the city streamed out and chanted slogans, expressing their fury at what happened.
The latest deaths bring the toll from protests in recent days to at least 20, including two US soldiers.
Protests were reported around the country on Friday:
  • Five separate groups were heading to different locations in Kabul, including Nato headquarters and the US Embassy, police said, with one protestor reported wounded when police fired into the air. Some 300 people were heading towards Kabul's main military training centre, security sources told the BBC
  • About 1,000 people were on the streets in Baghlan
  • In Ghazni, 600 demonstrators gathered outside the governor's office shouting "death to Obama"
  • About 300 protesters turned out in Kunduz province
  • Several thousand people protesting in Nangarhar blocked a highway
  • A demonstration in Gardez, capital of Paktia province, is now reported to be over
  • A demonstration was reported in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif
German troops are also moving from a small base in Takhar province to a larger facility in neighbouring Kunduz province because of protests.German troops are also moving from a small base in Takhar province to a larger facility in neighbouring Kunduz province because of protests.
'Major error''Major error'
Earlier on Friday, Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Allen, appealed for calm.Earlier on Friday, Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Allen, appealed for calm.
"I call on everyone throughout the country - Isaf members and Afghans - to exercise patience and restraint as we continue to gather the facts", Gen Allen said in a statement. "I call on everyone throughout the country - Isaf members and Afghans - to exercise patience and restraint as we continue to gather the facts," Gen Allen said in a statement.
"Working together with the Afghan leadership is the only way for us to correct this major error and ensure that it never happens again," he said."Working together with the Afghan leadership is the only way for us to correct this major error and ensure that it never happens again," he said.
In a letter to President Hamid Karzai sent on Thursday, Mr Obama expressed his "deep regret".
He also assured the Afghan president that US authorities would question all those responsible.
On Thursday President Karzai told members of the Afghan parliament that a US officer was responsible for the burning, but said it was done out of "ignorance".On Thursday President Karzai told members of the Afghan parliament that a US officer was responsible for the burning, but said it was done out of "ignorance".
But the various apologies proffered by Nato and the US have failed to quell the anger. But the various apologies proffered by Nato and the US have not cooled the anger on the streets, the BBC's Orla Guerin in Kabul reports.
Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence.Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence.
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul reports that the Afghan authorities have been blamed for failing to handle the violence and for several intelligence shortcomings.
On Thursday the Taliban had called on Afghans to attack "invading forces" in revenge for "insulting" the Koran.On Thursday the Taliban had called on Afghans to attack "invading forces" in revenge for "insulting" the Koran.
In a statement a Taliban spokesman said Afghans should "not stop at protesting" but instead target military bases and personnel to "teach them a lesson that they will never again dare to insult the Holy Koran".In a statement a Taliban spokesman said Afghans should "not stop at protesting" but instead target military bases and personnel to "teach them a lesson that they will never again dare to insult the Holy Koran".
Last year, at least 24 people died in protests across Afghanistan after a hardline US pastor burned a Koran in Florida.Last year, at least 24 people died in protests across Afghanistan after a hardline US pastor burned a Koran in Florida.
Are you in Afghanistan? Are you planning to take part in protests? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you in Afghanistan? Are you planning to take part in protests? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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