Taliban Calls on Afghans to Avenge Quran Burning
The Taliban in Afghanistan has distributed handwritten leaflets south of Kabul telling Muslim clerics about a Florida minister's now-canceled plans to burn copies of the Quran Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Although the Rev. Terry Jones announced Thursday that he has canceled his controversial plans to burn copies of the Muslim holy book, the Taliban has already used the minister's protest to advance its cause.
CBS News has obtained some of the leaflets. They were distributed on the backs of motorcycles to small villages in Paktia province, in the southeast part of the country, CBS News Correspondent Mandy Clark reports.
The distribution of the leaflets comes after the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, warned earlier this week that the Rev. Terry Jones' plans to burn copies of the Muslim holy book would endanger American troops.
In an interview broadcast Thursday morning, President Obama urged the minister to "listen to those better angels" and cancel his protest. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has also voiced opposition to the book burning.
The leaflets include a call to avenge any burning of the Quran.
"To defend blessed Quran and righteous Islam and your religion, join our track and go for taking revenge of the holy Koran," the leaflets read in part.
Because many villagers cannot read, the leaflets were given to imams, who were instructed to pass the message on to villagers, even during their daily prayers.
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