Afghan officials say at least 12 people died and 27 others were wounded Friday in violent protests that began four days ago when NATO troops burned Qurans at Bagram Airfield north of Kabul. The demonstrations are happening at numerous locations across the country, including outside a U.S. Consulate and just outside the walls of an International Security Assistance Force base in northern Baghlan province. Many protesters are armed with guns and rocks.
Authorities say at least seven of the deaths occurred in Herat province while Khost province and Kabul province reported two deaths apiece. One death occurred in Baghlan province. There have been no reports of any ISAF troops dying in Friday’s protests.
The burned Qurans were discovered Tuesday by Afghan workers at Bagram. Military officials say the Muslim holy books were burned because it appeared detainees at Parwan Detention Facility were using them to communicate to each other. The books also contain handwritten extremist messages.
In a letter to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, President Obama offered his "regret and apologies over the incident in which religious materials were unintentionally mishandled." Obama also promised to “take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, including holding accountable those responsible.”
###
Click here for more World News
