Afghans protest church's threat to burn Qur'an

Thousands of Afghans are protesting a Florida church's controversial plan to burn the Qur'an on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Authorities say at least 11 people have been injured in the demonstrations that broke out throughout the nation.

Several hundred protesters swarmed a NATO compound in the northern province of Badakhshan, according to local police. Four protesters and five police officers were injured in the clashes.

Demonstrators also burned an American flag at a mosque after Friday prayers.

Two people were injured in a separate rally in western Farah province, police said.

Officials said earlier reports that someone was killed were wrong.

Rev. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida has pledged to burn the Muslim holy book on the anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, unless developers cancel plans to build an Islamic centre near Ground Zero.

As the protests unfolded in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai said hoped Jones would abandon his plan to burn the Qur'an.

"The holy book is implanted in the hearts and minds of all the Muslims," Karzai said.

"Humiliation of the holy book represents the humiliation of our people. I hope that this decision will be stopped and should never have been considered."

Jones cancelled the plans Thursday but then said he was reconsidering.

With files from The Associated Press

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  Afghans shout anti-U.S. slogans as they burn tires and block a highway during a protest in reaction to a small American church's plan to burn copies of the Qur'an, at Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 10, 2010. (AP / Rahmat Gul)

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  Afghans pelt stones at an election signboard and burn tires blocking a highway, in reaction to a small American church's plan to burn copies of the Quran, at Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 10, 2010. (AP / Rahmat Gul)