Obama apologises to Karzai on Koran desecration

Washington, Feb 23: US President Barack Obama in a letter to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, regretted and apologised over the desecration of the Holy Koran at the Bagram Airbase.

Obama's letter to Karzai in this regard was delivered by US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Croker, this afternoon, National Security Council spokesman, Tommey Vietor, said.

"Following up on their February 20 phone call, the President sent a letter to President Karzai to continue their discussion on a range of issues related to our long-term partnership," Vietor said.

"In the letter, delivered by Ambassador Crocker this afternoon in Kabul, the President also expressed our regret and apologies over the incident in which religious materials were unintentionally mishandled at Bagram Airbase," Vietor said.

The burning of copies of the Koran at the Bagram base north of Kabul has sparked three days of fierce anti-US protests in Afghanistan in which at least 12 protesters have been killed.

PTI