Afghan policeman kills two foreign soldiers amid protests

Feb 23, 2012, 11:20 GMT

Kabul - Two foreign soldiers were killed by an Afghan policeman Thursday, officials said, in what appeared to be revenge for the alleged burning of copies of the Koran by US troops.

The incident took place in Khogyani district of the eastern province of Nangarhar, a security official said on condition of anonymity.

'There was a protest in front of a military base. An Afghan policeman fired at the foreign troops and killed two of them,' the official said.

'It seems he killed them to avenge the Koran burning,' the official said, adding that he did not know what happened to the alleged shooter after the incident.

Protests broke out across the country Tuesday, a day after US troops reportedly incinerated copies of the Koran, suspecting they were being used to carry insurgent messages.

NATO-led international forces confirmed Thursday's shooting, but not the location.

'An individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against International Security Assistance Force service members in eastern Afghanistan today, killing two service members,' Captain Justin Brockhoff said.

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