Quran Burning creates new Afghan dangers: Petraeus

The burning of the Holy Quran at a small Florida church -- an occasion that resulted in a third day of deadly riots in Afghanistan -- creates new dangers for the US-led mission against the Taliban, US General David Petraeus told the Wall Street Journal.



In the interview, which was posted on the newspaper's website late Sunday, Petraeus said the March 20 burning "was a surprise."



Petraeus, leader of the US-led international force in Afghanistan, deplored the burning as "hateful, tremendously disrespectful and extremely bigoted."



"each security force leader's worst nightmare is being confronted by essentially a mob, if you will, especially one that can be influenced by individuals that want to incite violence, who want to try to hijack passions, in this case, maybe understandable passions," Petraeus told the Journal.



"Without a doubt it's an added serious security challenge in a realm that faces substantial security challenges," he said.



Violent protests against the desecration that began in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Friday claimed the lives of at least 22 people, including seven foreign UN staff.



At a security meeting Sunday attended by Petraeus and US ambassador Karl EikenberryKarl Eikenberry, President Hamid KarzaiHamid Karzai repeated his call for the US administration and the US Senate to "condemn the act in strong words... and bring those responsible to justice," his office said in a statement.



President Barack Obama on Saturday condemned the Koran burning as an act of "extreme intolerance and bigotry".