US criticises Koran burning plan

The Obama administration has said it is concerned about the proposed burning of the Koran by a religious group in the United States.
On Tuesday, the White House said it supported the recent comments of Gen. David Patraeus, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, that the fire could put U.S. troops in the country at risk.
"It puts our troops in danger, any kind of activity as one that puts our troops in danger is a concern of this administration," Robert Gibbs, spokesman for the White House said.
A group of the Church in Florida is planning to burn copies of the Muslim holy book, on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11.
Patraeus critical
Earlier Tuesday Patraeus said that the plan was disrespectful and could endanger the Western troops fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Patraeus said that the move could hurt attempts by Barack Obama, President, to reach the Muslim world and lead to retaliatory attacks against U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO secretary general also criticized the proposed combustor.
"I strongly condemn that ... I think that such actions are in stark contradiction with all the values that we defend and fight for, "he told reporters before a meeting with Obama in Washington.
"Of course, there is a risk, it may also have a negative impact on the safety of our troops."
An angry protest took place Monday in Afghanistan against the regime, and demonstrations were also observed in Indonesia, the world of the most populous Muslim nation.
However, the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, which is said to have about 50 members, said they would still go ahead with the fire.
Terry Jones, pastor of the church, said he had given "serious" the concerns expressed by General Petraeus, but the group had "firm up our mind on combustion.
Prosecutor General Meeting
Jones said the move aimed to "remember those who were brutally murdered on September 11, and send a warning to the radical element of Islam."
Last January, Afghan troops killed eight demonstrators and wounded 13 others in a riot triggered by a report that foreign troops had desecrated the Koran during a raid in the southern province of Helmand. A spokesman for the NATO denied the report.
Meanwhile, Eric Holder, the Attorney General of the United States, was to meet with religious leaders of all faiths through Tuesday to discuss ways to stem a wave of attacks against Muslims and mosques.
The broad coalition in a statement that the meeting would discuss how the Department of Justice "may be taken against anti-Muslim hatred and increase violence and intimidation against American Muslims."
The meeting was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. (2000 GMT) Tuesday.
"After talking to many families across the country in recent weeks I have heard many American Muslims say they have never felt that this anxiety or insecurity in America since immediately after Sept. 11, Ingrid Mattson, the head of the Islamic Society of North America and one of the leaders meet Holder said.