Kabul, January 13: Protesters claiming that international troops destroyed copies of the Quran clashed with Afghan and foreign security forces today, leaving six people dead, Afghan officials said.
Also in the south, 13 insurgents were killed by a missile that international forces fired from an unmanned drone, NATO said.
A protest of about 2,000 people in Helmand province’s Garmsir district turned violent as demonstrators fought with security forces, leaving six civilians dead, according to the top official in the province, Abdullah Barak. Provincial spokesman Daoud Ahmadi confirmed six dead but did not say if they were civilians.
NATO said only one person was killed during the protest — an insurgent sniper who allegedly shot at an Afghan official and was killed by NATO troops.
A NATO spokesman denied that the foreign troops desecrated any copies of Islam’s holy book in Sunday’s operation with Afghan forces in Garmsir. Lt Nico Melendez said no shots were fired, and no property was damaged.
“We take such allegations very seriously and would support a combined investigation with local Afghan authorities,” he said.
Afghanistan is a Muslim nation where blasphemy of Muhammad and the Quran is considered a serious crime that is punishable by death.
Similar allegations that US troops desecrated the Quran during an operation in October in Wardak province also sparked protests. US and Afghan authorities denied the allegation, insisting that the Taliban are spreading the rumour to stir up public anger.
–PTI