A protest by hundreds of people in Afghanistan against the ceremonial burning of the Koran by a US pastor left up to 20 people dead as militants overran a UN compound and beheaded foreign staff.
The attackers forced their way into the lightly defended compound during a protest by up to 2,000 people following prayers yesterday in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. They overpowered the guards, beheaded two people, toppled a guard tower and torched part of the complex.
The protesters hurled stones at police, who responded by firing into the air during clashes that lasted up to three hours and left at least five of the protesters dead from gunshot wounds, according to witnesses. Mirwais Rabeh, director of the health department in Balkh province, said another 20 protesters were injured. All the victims had gunshot wounds.

At least five Afghan civilians have been killed in southern Afghanistan during a protest against a Florida church's burning of the Muslim holy book.
Zalmai Ayubi, spokesman for the provincial governor of Kandahar, says 46 others were wounded when the crowd of hundreds of protesters turned violent today. He says the protesters tried to burn some vehicles and shops.