Man dies at Quran burning protest

The protests triggered by plans by an American preacher to burn copies of the Quran have claimed their first life.

By Robert Carry

US pastor Terry Jones's planned to burn copies of the Muslim holy book to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US. A large demonstration kicked off in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, in the North of the country, in response to the Florida preacher’s plans.

Although Jones later said he would ‘suspend’ his protest, the news didn’t reach the Afghan protesters who gathered in large numbers for the demonstration.

The protest later turned violent and one person was killed with a further six injured.

US defence secretary Robert Gates and president Barack Obama and had urged the Rev. Terry Jones to call off the Quran burning event.