Afghanistan slams US Quran burning as "abhorrent"

Afghanistan on Thursday condemned the "disrespectful and abhorrent" burning of the Quran by a U.S. evangelical preacher in a Florida church, calling it an effort to incite tension between religions.

President Hamid Karzai called on the United States to bring those responsible for the burning of the Islamic holy book on Sunday to justice.

"President Karzai on behalf of the Muslim people of Afghanistan and on his own behalf denounced the disrespectful and abhorrent act," said a statement from Karzai's office, according to AFP.

Pastor Wayne Sapp set light to a Quran under the supervision of Terry Jones, who last year drew condemnation over his aborted plan to burn a pile of the holy books to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Jones cancelled his plans under enormous pressure from world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, but the mere threat to burn the Muslim holy book sparked large protests in Afghanistan and other Muslim nations.

Sunday's event, presented as a trial in which the Quran was found "guilty" and "executed", was open to the public, but fewer than 30 people attended.