2 Killed in Afghan Anti-Quran-Burning Protest

Protesters chanted “Death to America!”

Video

Anti-American protests turn deadly (MSNBC, Sept. 12, 2010) — Anti-American protests turned deadly in Afghanistan, where at least two protesters died after they were shot. NBC’s Tom Aspell reports. (02:19)

By Dusan Stojanovic

September 12, 2010

KABUL, Afghanistan — Two protesters died and four were injured as Afghans protested for a third day Sunday against a plan by an American pastor to burn copies of the Islamic holy book, despite his decision to call off the action.

Mohammad Rahim Amin, chief of the Baraki Barak district in eastern Logar province, said the deaths and injuries occurred when Afghan soldiers opened fire on hundreds of protesters who were trying to storm the local government headquarters.

During recent protests against the Quran burning, Afghans have regularly targeted the pro-Western government.

Terry Jones, pastor of a small Florida church, said Saturday that “we feel that God is telling us to stop” the Quran burning, which was to coincide with the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

The plan to burn the Quran stirred outrage among millions of Muslims and others worldwide.

The protesters in Logar chanted “Death to America” and burned tires, attacked several shops and set election campaign posters on fire, Amin said. …

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — September 13, 2009

Rep. Michele Bachmann speaks at a Tea Party rally in St. Cloud, Minn., Friday, June 4, 2010. (Photo: Aubrey Immelman)

Bachmann Heads Teabaggers

One year ago today, I reported that Rep. Michele Bachmann held a town hall meeting in St. Cloud to talk about President Obama’s health care reform proposals, after which she headlined an anti-Obama tea party.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: Two Years Ago — September 13, 2008

Deadly bombing north of Baghdad (Photo: Hameed Rasheed / AP)

After the Primary Election: Day 4

Two years ago today, on the fourth day after losing my 2008 primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, I reported, in line with my focus on national security, that a car bombing in the mainly Shiite Iraqi town of Dujail, 30 miles north of Baghdad, killed at least 32 people and wounded more than 40.