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Subscribe to RSSJALALABAD, Afghanistan — Demonstrators battled police in southern Afghanistan's main city on Sunday and took to the streets in the turbulent east for the first time as Western pleas failed to halt a third day of rage over a Florida pastor's burning of the Quran.
Rahmat Gul / AP
A protestor beats a burning effigy of U.S. President Barack Obama during a rally in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 3. Afghan protests against the burning of a Quran in Florida entered a third day with a demonstration in the major eastern city Sunday, while the Taliban called on people to rise up, blaming government forces for any violence.
An officer was shot dead in a second day of clashes in the city of Kandahar, said provincial health director Qayum Pokhla. Two officers and 18 civilians were wounded, he said.
In Jalalabad, the largest city in the east, hundreds of people blocked the main highway for three hours, shouting for U.S. troops to leave, burning an effigy of President Barack Obama and stomping on a drawing of a U.S. flag. More than 1,000 people set tires ablaze to block another highway in eastern Parwan province for about an hour, said provincial police chief Sher Ahmad Maladani.
Rahmat Gul / AP
Protestors shout anti-U.S. slogans during a demonstration in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 3.
The violence was set off by anger over the March 20 burning of the Quran by a Florida church — the same church whose pastor had threatened to do so last year on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, triggering worldwide outrage. Continue reading.
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It's very interesting that the Afghan response to Koran burning gets far more play in the Western media that the killing of children and other unarmed civilians by the psychopathic US soldiers who are on trial in Seattle. "Our" savages are swept under the rug, "their" savages are put on display.
When I see these people Burning buildings belonging t the very institutions that are there to help them, and then killing our Men and Women in the forces, makes my blood boil. The Ingrates!
I'll say what I think has to be said: The Afghans want us out that hell hole of a place. Thy only wanted us to fight their silly religious war for them and W sucked us in.
Somebody burnt a book? BIG DEAL. WAKE UP! It'a not 1000 BC!!!
Society in the Middle East follows the doctrine in which they act as if they need the help but as it has ha-penned in the past, as soon as the political winds change. they will turn their backs on us so fast we'll think we've just traveled back to the stone age!
Our so called "Political Leaders" need to understand that the blood of of Canadian, British and American soldiers is being wasted on this campaign. We were there suckered in by the screams for "Help" and the cause was valid. But when the people and the culture that country turn their backs to you when it pleases them is BARBARIC
Let's get our troops out NOW. If the Afghans want to go back t the Stone Age I say leave them there. I have run out of sympathy fro any of these so called "Nations in Need".
Our efforts would be better appreciated in Haiti and Japan
Ingrates!!
Florida pastor is the one that should be burned in effigy. Then should be tried in US for treason!
This is not a "Freedom of Speech" issue. Floridians,wake up and take care of this traitor!