KABUL: Angry demonstrators in southeast Afghanistan accused American troops of insulting Islam by distributing soccer balls bearing the name of Allah, which were meant as gifts for children.
The balls showed the Saudi Arabian flag bearing the Koranic declaration of faith, which includes the name of Allah and is revered by Muslims.
The U.S. military said they meant to give something for Afghan children to enjoy and did not realize it would cause offense. The balls were dropped from a helicopter in Khost province, BBC News online reported.
The balls displayed flags from countries all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, which has complained to the World Cup's ruling body in the past about the use of its flag on footballs.
Mullahs criticized U.S. forces for their insensitivity and around 100 people demonstrated in Khost. Afghan MP Mirwais Yasini said, "To have a verse of the Koran on something you kick with your foot would be an insult in any Muslim country around the world."
A spokeswoman for the U.S. forces in Afghanistan said they made "significant efforts to work with local leaders, mullahs and elders to respect their culture. Unfortunately there was something on those footballs we didn't immediately understand to be offensive and we regret that as we do not want to offend." | 
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