Thousands of Kandaharis protest peacefully against Qur'an burning

By Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — A protest against the burning of a Qur'an by a Florida pastor remained peaceful Wednesday despite fears it would erupt in violence like similar demonstrations did two weeks ago.

Afghan police were out in force in anticipation of trouble, and some stores and offices in Afghanistan's second-largest city stayed closed.

As many as 3,000 people took part in the protest, some waving the white flag of the Taliban.

While the protest was aimed at the Qur'an desecration, some used the occasion to denounce the presence of coalition forces in the city.

"Foreigners should leave Afghanistan as soon as they can," said one demonstrator, Haji Abdul Manan.

"They should not have raids on locals homes. They should not shoot locals on the streets."

Earlier in the month, nine people were killed and about 100 injured in Kandahar when protests against last month's Qur'an burning by Rev. Terry Jones turned into a riot.

The violence followed similar protests and bloodshed in other parts of the country, including an attack on a UN building in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, where four Afghans and seven foreigners were killed.

Kandahar Gov. Tooryalai Wesa condemned the demonstrators as "aggressive" outsiders.

"They are from remote areas and other provinces," Wesa said Wednesday at a meeting in nearby Dand district. "That's why they are under the influence of the enemy."

Some of those on hand at the protest apologized for the earlier rioting, which included beating Afghan journalists, but blamed police for opening fire and infuriating the crowd.

"(Protesters) burnt some shops, a school bus and other things (and) we apologize for that," said Mirwise Agha.

"(But) instead of shooting, (police) should have used tear gas or rubber bullets."

Others said the police who opened fire should be brought to justice.

Jones's burning of the Qur'an sparked strong condemnation from U.S. President Barack Obama and other leaders.

- With files from A.R. Khan

Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.