Five Afghans were killed on Wednesday and scores more injured when police opened fire at a protest. The demonstrators were protesting NATO troops burning of of Islam's holy book, the Qur'an at an American base. Washington apologized for the incident, saying it was “an inappropriate thing to do.” Protests swamped the cities of Kabul, Jalalabad and in the district of Barowan, north of the capital. One man was killed in Kabul and another in Jalalabad while three died north of Kabul in the district of Barowan. 30 people were also wounded and taken to local hospitals, according to medical sources inside the country. Protesters chanted “death to America” before riot police attempted to disperse them. Leon Panetta, US Defense Secretary, called what happened a “mistake,” trying to ease the strong reaction Muslims had towards burning their holiest book. The US was trying to start peace negotiations with the Taliban, in the country of Qatar, ahead of withdrawing the rest of the troops from the war-torn country. According to Washington's plan, the last American soldier will leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Rocks were hurled at Camp Phoenix, an American base in Kabul, and few cars were set on fire. Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers from the camp fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd, but no confirmed reports it was in fact the Americans who shot and killed the protesters. The American Embassy in Kabul announced on Twitter that it is closing its doors and staff were forbidden to leave the premises, fearing violent attacks. On Monday night, copies of Islam's holy book were burned on the ground at the largest American base in Afghanistan, 60 kilometers north of Kabul. The troops said the Qur'an was thrown in the fire “by mistake.” They added that an investigation will be opened and “such incidents will not happen again.” However this is not the first time that such disgraceful acts have been committed from the American military, as the burning of the Qur'an or throwing the book in the toilet has become a customary act. The troops however, attempted to defend themselves saying they thought the books were used to “transfer messages.” Insulted protesters surrounded the base of Bagram and threw stones at it and tried to set one of its entrances on fire, according to press reports. American troops replied by shooting rubber bullets, which increased the number of injured. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/r9ctv Tags: Afghanistan, featured, Quran Burning, United States Section: Asia, Latest News, North America, Religion
