Obama: I had to act over Koran-burning plan
A US pastor’s plan to burn Korans on September 11 must be taken seriously because it could cause “profound damage” to US troops and interests around the world, President Barack Obama said today.
“You don’t play games with that,” he said and insisted that as commander in chief he had an obligation to respond.
Terry Jones, the pastor of the small Florida church which has a congregation of about 50, has put his plan on hold.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates called Jones yesterday to ask him to cancel the plan.
Obama was asked at a White House news conference whether Gates’ intervention could elevate Jones, previously a little known figure.
The President said burning the Koran would be contrary to what America stands for and could pose a threat to Americans in uniform.
Jones backed off his threat after he said he was promised that a planned Islamic centre and mosque would be moved away from New York’s ground zero.
Muslim leaders denied there was such a deal.
Later outside his church he said the imam he thought he made the deal with “lied to us” about moving the mosque.
The Imam, Muhammad Musri later said there was only an agreement for him and Jones to travel to New York and meet tomorrow with the imam overseeing the mosque plans.
In New York, the Islamic centre project leader, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, said he was glad Jones had backed down but that he had not spoken to the pastor or Musri.
Meanwhile at least 11 people were injured when thousands protested in Afghanistan over the plans.
