Protests Over Koran Burning Results In Widespread Violence In Afghanistan

Protests Over Koran Burning Spread In Afghanistan, With 9 Dead In Kandahar -- Washington Post

KABUL — Violent protests over the burning of a Koran spread to the heart of Taliban country Saturday, as clashes between demonstrators and Afghan police in Kandahar left at least nine people dead and more than 90 injured, according to Afghan officials.

The clashes marked the second consecutive day that mobs thronged the streets of major Afghan cities to protest the burning of Islam’s holy book last month by a Florida pastor. On Friday, a mob attacked a U.N. compound in the normally placid northern city of Mazar-e Sharif and killed seven U.N. employees: four Nepalese guards and three European staff members.

The Koran burning also prompted more peaceful demonstrations in the capital, Kabul, in the western city of Herat and in the northern province of Takhar.

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More News On Afghanistan

'Hold Islam accountable': U.S. pastor defiant after his Koran-burning publicity stunt led to two UN staff being beheaded and five others murdered -- Daily Mail
Afghan Rioting Spreads Over Quran Burning -- Wall Street Journal
Protests Over Koran Burning Reach Kandahar -- New York Times
Afghan Violence Spreads Over Terry Jones' Quran Burning - ABC News
Quran-burning protests spread to Kandahar; 9 dead -- CNN
9 killed, 81 injured in Quran burning protest in south Afghan city -- Xinhuanet
U.N. death toll in Afghan attack may hit 20: officials -- Reuters
Afghanistan: when gentle Mazar-e-Sharif erupted in violence -- The Guardian
Why Terry Jones Quran burning spurred two days of deadly Afghan protests -- Tom A. Peter, Christian Science Monitor

My Comment: I cannot say that I am surprised. The burning of a book was only the excuse needed to start such a cycle of violence by the Taliban and their supporters. Expect more killings and protests in the next few days.