U.S. president denounces plan to burn Koran in Florida

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 6, 2010. (Xinhua/AFP Filephoto)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday denounced as "destructive" a plan by a Florida minister to burn Korans on the 9th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The president said the proposed plan by the Rev. Terry Jones of Florida could greatly endanger the lives of American men and women in uniform.

"I hope he listens to those better angels and understands that this is a destructive act that he's engaging in," Obama said during an interview with ABC's Good Morning America" program. "If he's listening, I hope he understands that what he's proposing to do is completely contrary to our values as Americans."

"As a very practical matter, I just want him to understand that this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women who are in uniform," the president added.

Obama warned that the proposed Koran burning, if carried out, could serve as "a recruitment bonanza" for Al Qaida and increase suicide bombers in American or European cities.

Jones, who serves a small church in Gainesville, Fla., has so far refused to cancel his plans to burn some 200 Korans on Saturday evening.

"As of this time we have no intention of canceling," the minister said at a press conference in Florida on Wednesday. Enditem

Several members of Obama's adminstration, including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, earlier denounced the Koran-burning plan.

Also, Army Gen. David Petraeus, the ground commander in Afghanistan, has said the act of burning the Koran could endanger troops fighting there.

On Wedneday, the State Department ordered U.S. embassies around the world to assess their security ahead of the planned weekend demonstration in Florida.

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