US apologizes for desecrating Quran
US Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III
The US military has apologized to Iraqi officials for using the Holy Qur'an for target practice during sniper training sessions in Baghdad.
The No. 2 US commander in Iraq Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III paid individual visits to the country's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and vice president Tareq al-Hashemi on Monday to apologize for the action.
The vice president asked for a written apology from the US military, saying, "The feelings of bitterness and anger cannot be eased unless there is a deterrent punishment and real guarantees."
The US military said on Sunday that the sniper had been disciplined and removed from Iraq.
The incident came to light on May 11 when Iraqi officials found a bullet-riddled copy of the Holy Qur'an in a US police station shooting range in Baghdad's western outskirts.
The discovery of the defaced Qur'an has thrown the spotlight on the Bush administration, exposing their flagrant disregard for Islamic values.
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