JALALABAD, Afghanistan, May 11 (UPI) -- At least three people have died in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, after police opened fire on hundreds of students participating in anti-U.S. riots.
The rioting followed reports that the Koran had been desecrated at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, where more than 500 suspected al-Qaida and Taliban are detained, the BBC reported Wednesday.
Newsweek magazine recently reported that U.S. personnel had flushed a copy of the Islamic holy book "down the toilet."
Protesters chanted, "Death to America" and smashed car windows and damaged shops. The rioters reportedly attacked buildings belonging to the United Nations and destroyed the offices of two international aid groups.
The Pakistani consul's house reportedly was burned down and two cars were torched.
One international aid worker told the BBC he could see smoke rising from points across the city. He said groups of people were running along the streets, reportedly looking for foreigners and anyone working for non-governmental organizations.
All U.N. and other foreign aid workers in the city have been told to move to safe areas. U.S. troops have been deployed to the streets to keep order.
Jalalabad is 80 miles east of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and is close to the Pakistani border.
