Nine people have died in protests against the burning by US soldiers of copies of the Koran.

Violent anti-American demonstrations yesterday February 23, 2012 continued across Afghanistan as anger grew over the news that American soldiers at the Bagram Airbase north of the capital, Kabul, earlier this week burnt copies of Islam’s holy book, the Koran. The BBC reported that at least two people were killed and scores injured in clashes between demonstrators and security forces, bringing the total casualty figure since the protests began four days ago to at least nine.

Afghan President, Hamid Karzai yesterday met tribal leaders and politicians in an effort to find ways of calming tensions, the BBC said. Angry Afghan soldiers confiscated American flags while furious protesters set President Barack Obama’s effigies ablaze. A Taliban spokesman called on Afghans to take action against Westerners for insulting the Koran. The BBC said he urged them to continue protesting by targeting Western military bases and personnel to teach them a lesson.

Rising from an emergency debate, the Afghan Parliament condemned the incident, calling for the punishment of those responsible. Earlier in the week, the top commander of US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen, apologised for the incident, saying it was not intentional, the BBC said.

Earlier on Wednesday, seven people died and dozens left injured in protests over the incident. Afghan security officials fear the protests could spread further. A BBC correspondent in Kabul said copies of the Koran were confiscated from Taliban detainees at Bagram Airbase in a bid to stop them from sending ‘dangerous’ messages to each other. Half burnt copies of the Koran were later discovered in an incinerator pit by Afghan workers at the airbase, thus sparking the nationwide outcry.

Observers warned that today’s Friday prayers across the country could spark more tensions. The US Embassy in Kabul said its staff was in 'lockdown' and travel had been suspended, the Daily Mail newspaper of England reported. The recent incident comes only weeks after US and UN officials condemned a video clip of US Marine snipers urinating on dead Afghans. A growing number of Afghans believe that foreign troops have little respect for their culture or Islam, the Daily Telegraph newspaper of Britain said.