Afghan police fired warning shots as angry crowds threw stones on the third day of unrest in Kabul. Video from the clashes shows one civilian who appeared to be seriously wounded. (Video by RFE/RL Radio Free Afghanistan's Sayedjan Sabawoon)
The Taliban has called on Afghans to launch attacks on military bases and convoys of foreign troops in response to the burning of Korans at a NATO military base earlier this week.
The statement came as more than 1,000 Afghans took to the streets of the capital, Kabul, for a third day of protests over the improper disposal of Islamic religious materials at the Bagram Air Field, which came to light on February 21.
Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters attacked a U.S. base in the eastern province of Laghman, hurling rocks to vent their anger. An AP photographer on the scene said hundreds of men marched on the headquarters of the U.S.-run Provincial Reconstruction Team in the city of Mehtar Lam after taking part in a nearby protest that had gathered about 2,000 demonstrators.
Initial reports said Afghan security forces fired warning shots in the air to try to disperse the crowd that had gathered near the Laghman facility. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Show Of Force
In a February 23 statement, the Taliban urged Afghans to "beat and kill" the "invaders."
The call to further violence came amid continuing protests and other unrest that have killed at least seven people and prompted a call for calm from Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
While the largest protest on February 23 appeared to be in Laghman Province, near Kabul, other demonstrations were taking place in Logar and Nangahar.
Charred copies of Islam's holy book were found at Bagram Air Field, sparking days of protests there and elsewhere in Afghanistan despite an apology from a U.S. commander over what he described as an inadvertent incident.
"Our brave people must target the military bases of invader forces, their military convoys, and their invader bases," said an e-mailed statement released by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
It went on to urge that such Westerners be beaten and "capture[d]."
But Mujahid said the Koran burning would not affect contacts with U.S. officials in Qatar that are designed to build confidence in a peace process and pave the way for a possible prisoner exchange.
The burnings attracted public attention after Afghan laborers reportedly found charred Korans while collecting trash at Bagram, about an hour north of the capital, Kabul.
Protests there have been followed by others in Jalalabad and Logar, where angry crowds stormed military bases, clashed with riot police, and attacked government buildings.
Official Responses
An RFE/RL Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent in Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan, said on February 22 that shots had been fired into a surging crowd by Afghan National Police officers trying to restore order.
Afghan Koran-Burning Protests Turn Violent
1/18An Afghan policeman flees as protesters throw rocks near a U.S. military base in Kabul on February 22, the second day of unrest after reports that NATO troops had burned copies of the Muslim holy book.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
2/18Smoke billows from a fuel tank supplying NATO troops after it was set on fire by protesters during a demonstration in Jalalabad on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
3/18Demonstrators parade an effigy of U.S. President Barack Obama as they shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest in Jalalabad on February 22 against the reported Koran desecrations.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
4/18An Afghan boy runs next to fire during a protest in Jalalabad on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
5/18An Afghan protester kicks a gate to a foreign army base gate during a Kabul protest on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
6/18Afghan security forces square off in front of a scattered crowd in Kabul during February 22 protesting.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
7/18Men shout anti-U.S. slogans during a demonstration in Jalalabad Province, one of the centers of tension following the reported Koran burnings, on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
8/18A demonstration in Jalalabad on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
9/18Security forces try to disperse a protest in Kabul at which tires were being burned.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
10/18Protesters outside Bagram air base, one of the international forces' main Afghan facilities, on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
11/18An Afghan security troop at the ready during the Kabul unrest.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
12/18Demonstrators on a main street as protests in Kabul Province continued on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
13/18An injured boy is carried away from a demonstration in Jalalabad Province on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
14/18An Afghan youth shouts anti-U.S. slogans during a protest in Kabul on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
15/18Afghan boys remove a burned tire from a Kabul street after a demonstration on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
16/18A man points to blood on a street during a protest near a U.S. military facility in Kabul on February 22.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
17/18A wounded protester lies on the ground as Afghan policemen keep watch during a protest in Kabul on February 23.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
18/18Afghan demonstrators run as they shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest against Koran desecration in Kabul on February 23.
Protests broke out in several Afghan cities following reports that international troops at Bagram air base had desecrated copies of the Koran in what U.S. officials described on February 21 as an unintentional incident. On the third day of protests, February 23, the Taliban urged Afghans to violence, saying they should "beat and capture" foreigners.
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On February 22, Karzai urged both protesters and security forces not to use violence, adding he was deeply saddened by the loss of life.
Extra police reinforcements have been deployed to quell potential rioting in Kabul and Jalalabad.
The White House, Pentagon, and NATO have apologized for the incident, calling it a mistake, and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has ordered an investigation.
