Afghans condemn 'Quran-burning'

Source Aljazeera.net

Police in Afghanistan opened fire on protesters in Kabul over two days of tense anti-United States demonstrations outside the country's parliament. The protesters were demanding that American troops stand trial for allegedly burning a copy of the Koran in Wardak province. US officials deny the allegations and Afghan officials in Wardak claim the accusations are baseless. True or not, the story sparked a furious mob of about 1,000 people, already resentful of a US-led occupation and war that has lasted eight years. Demonstrators burned an effigy of President Obama, while others chanted "Death to America" and tried to storm the parliament. Medical personnel say that three people were admitted to a hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers used a water canon to try to disperse the mob, which was led by students from Kabul University. Afghan officials insisted that the police had fired only warning shots into the sky and said that at least 15 officers were wounded in the clashes.