TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The Florida pastor who threatened to burn copies of the Koran on Sept. 11 drew just 10 people to his weekend "Stand Up America" rally in Tampa, officials said.
The Rev. Terry Jones captured worldwide attention and sparked riots in Pakistan and Afghanistan after saying he would burn copies of the Muslim holy book on the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, but his ability to attract attention is waning, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported Monday.
He called off the Koran burning at his Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville last month after widespread condemnation.
Jones had hired off-duty police to provide security for crowds that failed to materialize Sunday at a rented Tampa Convention ballroom, the newspaper said.
"We are in a pitiful condition in our country," Jones said. " This proves that. I don't know if they're scared off by the police or scared off by me."
