Fla. pastor says he won’t burn Qurans if he’s able to meet with imam over NYC mosque

Jones: Qurans won’t burn if he meets with NYC imam

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The leader of a tiny Florida church says he won’t follow through on a plan to burn copies of Islam’s holy text if he’s able to meet Saturday with the organizers behind a mosque planned near ground zero in New York.

Speaking to NBC’s “Today” show, the Rev. Terry Jones said if he meets with the imam in New York, he won’t burn the Quran. It wasn’t clear if he meant the burning would be halted indefinitely or just for Saturday.

Imam Muhammad Musri, the president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, told CBS’ “The Early Show” he had a commitment for Jones and himself to meet in New York with the imam there.

U.S. political leaders and Muslims around the world have been outraged by news of Jones’ plans to burn Qurans on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.