Afghans protest planned Florida Quran-burning

A small group associated with a fringe Christian church in Florida is planning to burn Qurans on Sept. 11 -- and is now the subject of outraged protests in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan warned that the anti-Islamic action could hurt troops in the volatile region.

"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort," Gen. David Petraeus told the Wall Street Journal. "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."

Florida pastor Terry Jones, who leads a small group of 50 worshipers, said they would forge ahead with plans for the Quran-burning, even though the city of Gainesville has refused him a permit for the protest.

About 500 protesters in Kabul burned an effigy of Jones and shouted "Long live Islam" and "Death to America" on Monday.

"What we are doing is long overdue," Jones told ABC News. "We are revealing the violence of Islam that is much, much deeper than we'd like to admit." Jones is the author of a book called "Islam Is Of the Devil."

(Photo of protesters in Kabul burning an effigy of Jones: AP)