Four Afghans killed on the third day of protests

Feb 23, 2012, 11:10 GMT

Kandahar, Afghanistan - At least three protesters were killed and six others were injured in southern Afghanistan Thursday on the third day of protests against alleged Koran burning by US troops.

The death brought the total of fatalities on Thursday to four.

A peaceful protest turned violent in Dehrawod district in the southern province of Uruzgan early Thursday, said Farid Ayel, police spokesman for the province.

'A number of gunmen has infiltrated the protesters and are firing at the police and government buildings in Dehrawood district,' he said.

'Three were killed and six were injured during the shootings,' he said, adding that police fired into the air to disperse the mob.

Earlier in the day, one protester was killed and four injured in the northern province of Baghlan as the protestors tried to storm a police station.

Thursday's casualties brought the week's death toll to 13.

On Monday, foreign troops 'improperly disposed' of Islamic religious materials, including copies of the Koran, at the Bagram air base, according to officials with the NATO-led forces.

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