KABUL, Oct 16: Afghan President Hamid Karzai is concerned over allegations US troops burnt a copy of the holy Quran and will take “suitable action” should the claims be proven, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

“The president heard the news from the Afghan authorities and the media with much concern and is aware of it,” Homayun Hamidzada told reporters.

“We contacted the forces urgently and they have assured us they will investigate the issue,” Hamidzada said.

He said if it was proven the soldiers had committed “such an obscene crime”, his government would take appropriate measures to punish the troopers.

“If proved, Afghanistan will take suitable action for such an important and serious matter. So far there is not sufficient evidence to prove the issue,” he said.

Members of parliament and village elders have alleged that US troops burned and tore up a copy of the holy book on Saturday during a raid in the eastern province of Kunar.

The US military has rejected the allegations, but said it would try to find out what had happened. Afghan investigators have sent burnt pages from to Kabul for tests to verify when they were set ablaze.

At a heated meeting in the Kunar capital of Asadabad on Sunday, villagers from the district where the raid occurred demanded an apology.

Iran has called for worldwide protests.

There are some 55,000 foreign soldiers here, about half of them from the United States.—AFP