Taliban urge Afghans to kill foreign soldiers

In revenge for burning copies of the Koran:

AFGHANISTAN: Taliban insurgents yesterday urged Afghans to kill foreign soldiers in revenge for the burning of copies of the Koran at a US-run military base that has sparked violent protests across the country.

In a statement sent to media, the militia called on Afghans to “not stop at protesting” but instead attack troops, against whom the Taliban are leading an increasingly deadly 10-year insurgency.

“Kill them, capture them, beat them and teach them a lesson that they will never again dare to insult the Holy Koran,” it said.

“Since the protection of the lives and property of Muslims is the duty of all Muslims, protesters should target the invading forces and their installations,” the Taliban added.

Yet the militia's main spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, told AFP late Wednesday that the Koran burning would not affect contacts with US officials in Qatar, designed to build confidence and pave the way for a prisoner exchange.

“We condemn the desecration of the Holy Koran in the strongest terms, but this issue will not affect this process in Qatar, we already said in the beginning that such issues cannot affect the process in Qatar,” he said. Anti-American protests against the burning of Korans carried on for a third straight day Thursday, after nine demonstrators were shot dead and dozens wounded in violent protests on Wednesday. AFP