US apologizes for Quran burnings at Afghanistan base

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan apologized Tuesday for
the burning of Qurans at a U.S. air base, which prompted more than 2,000
protesters to descend on the base in protest.

Gen. John Allen, commander of the International Security
Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan, said the burning of the Qurans was
unintentional, and he apologized to Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and the
Afghan people.

“We are thoroughly investigating the incident, and we are taking steps to
ensure this does not ever happen again,” Allen said in a televised message. “I
assure you, I promise you, this was not intentional in any way, and I offer my
sincere apologies for any offense this may have caused.”

{mosads}Afghans gathered on Tuesday at Bagram Air Field, where the
burning occurred, according to news reports. The protesters fired rifles in the
air, burned tires and threw rocks outside the base, according to The Associated
Press. “Die, die, foreigners!” they yelled.

Allen said that ISAF forces at Bagram had “improperly
disposed of a large number of Islamic religious materials, including Qurans.”

“When we learned of these actions, we immediately intervened
and stopped them,” Allen said.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a statement Tuesday he apologized to the Afghan people and disapproved of the conduct “in the strongest possible terms.”

“These actions do not represent the views of the United States military,” Panetta said. “We honor and respect the religious practices of the Afghan people, without exception.

“I support General Allen’s swift and decisive action to investigate this matter jointly with the Afghan government,” he said. “I will carefully review the final results of the investigation to ensure that we take all steps necessary and appropriate so that this never happens again.”

Ahmad Zaki Zahed, chief of the provincial council, told the
AP that U.S. officials showed him a burn pit where 60 to 70 books, including Qurans, had been recovered.

He said that the books were used by Afghans detained at the
base.

A Florida pastor who burned Qurans sparked
deadly protests last year in Afghanistan.

— This story was updated at 11:27 a.m.