Barack Obama apology to Afghanistan over Koran burning
Afghan police and plain-clothed security officials fire shots into a crowd of about 500 protesters in Kabul
President Barack Obama has apologised to the Afghan people for the burning of Korans by American troops at a US base.
In a letter to President Hamid Karzai, Mr Obama expressed his "deep regret" and said the incident earlier this week was a genuine mistake.
Demonstrations against the desecration have continued for a third day across northern and eastern Afghanistan.
Two foreign soldiers, believed to be Americans, have been killed, along with at least six Afghan people.
On Wednesday, another seven people were killed and dozens injured in protests.
Mr Obama's letter, delivered by the US ambassador to Afghanistan, assured the Afghan president that US authorities would question all those responsible.
At the scene
It started at about 09:00 when people from different villages around Baghlan converged on the town centre. About 1,000 demonstrators gathered in front of the police station and there was a lot of anger and violence. Then suddenly we heard an outbreak of machine-gun fire.
We went to the hospital where the injured were taken and a wounded policeman there told us that demonstrators shot at police. Officials say they are conducting an investigation to find out who opened fire.
After the violence, people escaped from the area, shops were closed and eventually demonstrators left. But it was an intense episode. People were shouting anti-American slogans expressing their outrage at the burning of the Koran. They also accused the Americans of being opposed to their religion.
"I convey my deep sympathies and ask you and the people to accept my deep apologies," the letter said.
President Karzai told members of the Afghan parliament that a US officer was responsible for the burning.
But he said it was done out of "ignorance".
In addition to those killed, many people have been injured in the protests, some of them critically, while armed men on Thursday also attacked at least two military installations.
Crowds shouting "death to Obama" have been throwing stones and setting fire to the US flag.
Meanwhile the Taliban has called on Afghans to kill and beat all invading forces in revenge for "insulting" the Koran.
In a statement a Taliban spokesman said Afghans should "not stop at protesting" but instead target military bases and personnel to "teach them a lesson that they will never again dare to insult the Holy Koran".
'Death to America'The BBC's Andrew North, in the Afghan capital, says many officials sympathise with the outrage the US has provoked across the country.
He says Friday prayers may spark more tensions, depending on the tone set by religious leaders.
The protests have become more widespread Police, local officials and tribal elders have told the BBC there have been major protests in at least nine areas across the country, each involving many hundreds of people.
The worst incident was in Khogyani in Nangarhar province, where a man wearing an Afghan army uniform killed two Nato soldiers who are believed to be from the US.
Two protesters were also killed and seven injured as Nato forces opened fire when armed men attacked the US/Afghan base.
Further south, in Uruzgan province, two people were killed and at least eight others wounded, three of them police, in clashes between protesters and Afghan security forces, local officials told the BBC's Bilal Sarwary.
They said demonstrators were carrying guns, metal bars and sticks.
There have now been three days of protests over the burning of the Koran at a US military base In northern Baghlan province, one civilian was killed and two others injured, while two police were also hurt.
Another person was killed in Laghman province east of Kabul, where local police said several hundred people were chanting "Death to America".
More than 3,000 people gathered in Mehtar Lam, the capital of Laghman province, with some burning an effigy of President Obama.
Police say fights broke out as they stopped hundreds of protesters entering the centre of Kabul.
And in Asadabad, some 1,500 demonstrators were said to be burning US flags and tyres and shouting anti-American slogans.
A French military base to the east of Kabul was attacked.
Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence.
Last year, at least 24 people died in protests across Afghanistan after a hardline US pastor burned a Koran in Florida.
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