Police fire warning shots to disperse anti-Quran-burning protest in Afghan capital

Police disperse anti-Quran-burn protest in Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan — Police have fired warning shots to disperse hundreds of stone-hurling Afghans protesting once-planned Quran burning in the U.S.

Up to 800 protesters gathered Wednesday at a square on the outskirts of Kabul chanting “death to America” and listening to fiery speeches from Muslim clerics demanding the ouster of the Afghan government and calling for foreign troops to leave the country.

The protesters burned tires and hurled stones at the police. They responded with machine-gun fire into the air.

At least three people were wounded in the clashes.

A small American church in Florida called off the Quran burning late last week after originally planning it for the Sept. 11 terror attack anniversary. The plan stirred outrage among millions of Muslims and others worldwide.