Deadly protests over the burning of Muslim holy books at Bagram airbase, the main American military installation near Kabul, continued across Afghanistan Thursday, bringing the death toll to at least 13 over three days of unrest. Victims include two U.S. servicemen who were shot to death outside a coalition military base in Nangarhar province by an individual wearing an Afghan-army uniform during one of the many protests.
The most Afghans do not support the Taliban's calls to attack and kill foreign troops to avenge the burning of Qurans at the U.S.-run base. The Taliban themselves are not very popular they themselves have a very blurry record of violating Islamic principles and targeting Muslims.

Although the U.S. has apologized for the incident and called it a mistake, protesters in eastern Afghanistan threw rocks and tried to remove razor wire from the perimeter of an American military base while Afghan police used water cannons, batons and fired over the heads of demonstrators to disperse the crowds. Several protesters reportedly were killed and injured in the clashes.
American apologies are falling on deaf ears in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, where anger over the burning of Qurans is boiling over.

Deadly anti-American protests erupted in Afghanistan for a fourth day Friday, with thousands of Afghans pouring onto the streets following Friday prayers, many chanting "Death to America."
Obama Quran apology angers GOP candidate

An apology from President Obama hasn't eased the anger or the protests over the burning of Qurans by U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Instead, it's drawn criticism from a Republican looking to take the president's job.
In Afghanistan outrage spreads over the burning of copies of the Quran at a NATO base, with angry, sometimes violent protests raging since Tuesday, despite repeated apologies from NATO and the U.S. military.
"This was unintentional. There was no intention, by any member of ISAF to defame the faith of Islam or to desecrate the precious religious materials of this faith," said ISAF commander Gen. John Allen.
President Obama issued an apology to Afghan President Hamid KarZai Thursday.
The apology came as two American troops were killed by a man wearing an Afghan National Army uniform.
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingich wasted no time criticizing the president for issuing an apology.
"There seems to be nothing that radical Islamists can do to get Barack Obama's attention in a negative way and he is consistently apologizing to people who do not deserve the apology of the president of the United States, period," said Gingrich.
A defense official said the troops did not intend to offend the Muslim community by burning copies of the Quran, but the religious texts were being used at a detention center to pass what he calls "extremist" messages between prisoners.
The State Department said it will work with the Afghan government to hold those troops involved accountable.

Anti-US Quran protests spread to Pakistan

Hundreds of Pakistani activists took to the streets on Friday, chanting "Death to America", demanding that their leaders resign and setting fire to a US flag over the burning of Qurans in Afghanistan.
Up to 300 people blocked the main Grand Trunk (GT) road in Peshawar, stomped on and set fire to the US flag, and kicked a dummy representing America, beating it with sticks as it burned.
"The ugly face of America has been revealed with the desecration of Holy Quran," a banner read.
The foreign ministry strongly condemned the burning, stressing that "utterly irresponsible and reprehensible things" do not happen again.
"On behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan, we condemn in strongest possible terms the desecration of Holy Quran" in Afghanistan, spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters.