US troops shot in Afghanistan

Two foreign soldiers serving in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led ISAF force were shot dead Thursday by a man wearing an Afghan army uniform, as anti-NATO protests across the country raged on. A US official later confirmed that both the soldiers were American.

NATO would not say whether the killings were connected to widespread Afghan outrage over the burning of copies of the Koran at a NATO military base earlier in the week, but local officials said the killings coincided with a public protest.

"As the protesters approached the American base here, an ANA [Afghan National Army] soldier in the base opened fire on American soldiers, killing two," said Mohammed Hassan, district chief of Khogyani in eastern Nangarhar province. Hassan also said the shooter managed to escape among the crowd.

There have been several incidents in recent months where Afghan security forces turn their weapons on their Western allies.

Thousands of Afghans took to the streets for a third consecutive day Thursday to protest against the destruction of Islam's most holy book, with the Taliban issuing an appeal that they target foreign troops.

"[The] Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan calls on all the youth present in the security apparatus of the Kabul regime to fulfill their religious and national duty … by turning their guns on the foreign infidel invaders," the Afghan Taliban wrote on its English-language website.

The US has repeatedly apologized for the incident at a major military base in Bagram, saying that the copies of the Koran were burned by mistake and pledging a full investigation into the affair. Afghan laborers discovered charred copies of the book while collecting rubbish at the base.

'Inadvertent error'

On Thursday, US ambassador Ryan Crocker presented a letter of apology from President Barack Obama to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

"I wish to express my deep regret for the reported incident. I extend to you and the Afghan people my sincere apologies," Obama wrote. "The error was inadvertent; I assure you that we will take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, to include holding accountable those responsible."

Karzai on Thursday blamed a US military officer for the burning of the Korans, among other texts, at a major NATO base. He told parliamentarians visiting his presidential palace in Kabul that the officer acted "out of ignorance and with poor understanding" of the Koran's importance to believers in Islam. Many Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God, with its desecration classed as one of the worst forms of blasphemy.

At least 11 people have died in the subsequent three days of protests, taking place in many towns and cities across the country. Security forces are gearing up for the possibility of further trouble following Friday prayers.

msh/acb (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)