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Terry Jones, the pastor of a Florida church who had threaten to burn Quran on 9/11 anniversary in New York has called off his plan permanently.
In an interview with NBC TV pastor said: “We will definitely not burn the Quran, not today, not ever."
According to CNN Jones arrived in New York late Friday night and was working to set up a meeting with the imam in charge of the Islamic center planned near ground zero. The planned meeting, Jones had said, helped persuade him to halt the burning.
Earlier Friday, Jones gave mixed messages about whether he intends to carry out his plans, which have sparked international controversy and protests in the Muslim world. U.S. military leaders said the event would imperil the lives of troops abroad.
Meanwhile according to a report appeared in Daily News, man ripped pages from a Koran and lit them aflame at a protest near the proposed site of a community center and mosque near Ground Zero on Saturday.
"If they can burn American flags, I can burn the Koran," shouted the unidentified man. "America should never be afraid to give their opinion." The man was led away by police but did not appear to be arrested, say the paper.
Daily Times said that the display – apparently prompted by Florida Pastor Terry Jones’ plan to burn the holy books – occurred as families who lost loved ones during the attacks commemorated the ninth anniversary at Ground Zero.