Koran riots kill 12 across Afghanistan

Twelve people were killed on Friday in the bloodiest day yet in protests that have raged across Afghanistan over the desecration of copies of the Muslim holy book at a NATO military base with riot police and soldiers on high alert braced for more violence.

Twelve people were killed on Friday in the bloodiest day yet in protests that have raged across Afghanistan over the desecration of copies of the Muslim holy book at a NATO military base with riot police and soldiers on high alert braced for more violence.

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The burning of the Korans at the Bagram compound earlier this week has deepened public mistrust of NATO forces struggling to stabilise Afghanistan before foreign combat troops withdraw in 2014.

Hundreds of Afghans marched towards the palace of president Hamid Karzai.

Chanting “Death to America!” and “Long live Islam!”, protesters also threw stones at police in Kabul, while Afghan army helicopters circled above.

Friday is a holy day and the official weekly holiday in Afghanistan. Thus it drew large crowds from mosques across the capital.