KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan is warning against an American church's plan to burn the Muslim holy book.

Gen. David Petraeus says burning the Quran could endanger U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Americans worldwide.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, Petraeus says ``images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan and around the world to inflame public opinion and incite violence.''

The general's comments follow a protest Monday by hundreds of Afghans over the plans by the Dove World Outreach Center to burn Qurans on church grounds to mark the ninth anniversary of 9/11.

Dove World Outreach Center is an evangelical Christian church based in Florida that espouses anti-Islam philosophy. It has been denied a permit to set a bonfire but has vowed to proceed with the burning.

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