Afghan officials: 6 killed in Quran protest

[StarfarerBill]

Source: Associated Press

KABUL – Protesters claiming that international troops destroyed copies of the Quran clashed with Afghan and foreign security forces on Tuesday, leaving six people dead, Afghan officials said.

Also in the south, 13 insurgents were killed by a missile that international forces fired from an unmanned drone, NATO said.

A protest of about 2,000 people in Helmand province's Garmsir district turned violent as demonstrators fought with security forces, leaving six civilians dead, according to the top official in the province, Abdullah Barak. Provincial spokesman Daoud Ahmadi confirmed six dead but did not say if they were civilians.

NATO said only one person was killed during the protest — an insurgent sniper who allegedly shot at an Afghan official and was killed by NATO troops.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100112/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

[NJmaverick]

1. Bill since you posted this, do you think it's true?

Do you think our troops are dumb enough to destroy the Quaran?

[StarfarerBill]

2. What I think doesn't matter; if the Afghans perceive it to be true, they'll respond.

Of course it's a possibility that some Western soldiers, out of ignorant malice, might destroy copies of the Quran; it was reported in Gitmo, and could happen again in Afghanistan. Alternatively, it could all be insurgent propaganda.

Whether it actually occurred is beside the point; as I said, if Afghans think it happened, they'll rise up in protest...that's the one, proven fact here.

[NJmaverick]

3. NATO reports killing an insurgent sniper who was targeting Afghan officials

sounds like this whole "protest" could have been orchestrated by the Taliban

[Bigmack]

4. Kinda like the Sepoy Mutiny....

in the late 1850's.

The new paper cartridges were rumored to be greased with either pig or cow fat, and the Sepoys didn't want to bite them to open them.

Primitive religious beliefs meet the modern world... rumors fly...people die.

That was in the 1850's.... and the Afghanis are still at that stage.

Time to leave and let them sort out their own development.

[StarfarerBill]

5. "Time to leave and let them sort out their own development."

Make that two proven facts.

[demoleft]

6. 'Afghan deaths in Nato firing'

Source: al jazeera

Villagers in southern Afghanistan have claimed that Afghan and Nato forces killed 13 demonstrators after a group of people took to the streets to protest the alleged desecration of the Quran.

Residents in Garmsir district of Helmand province on Tuesday said that Nato-led forces raided a house in the area on Sunday and destroyed copies of the holy book in a local mosque.

Haji Abdul Manan, one of the protesters, told the German Press Agency, DPA: "The people came out of their homes today to protest this action of foreign forces in a peaceful way, but the Afghan and international forces opened fire on us."

He said more than 20 others were wounded in the firing.


Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net//news/asia/2010/01/20101122113069957.html

[pjt7]

7. "we are here to give YOU freedom"

not.

[Tujju]

8. Dear NJmaverick

Dear NJmaverick, NATO can't defend them on the incident of destroying copies of Quran if the Afghani's can't, same way