Pastor calls off plan to torch Qurans

Deal reached, church leader says. But New York imam denies he bartered with Florida's Terry Jones to move mosque

A Florida pastor who threatened to burn a stack of Qurans on tomorrow's anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks abruptly cancelled the event yesterday after claiming he had succeeded in blocking construction of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.

Terry Jones, pastor of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Centre, said he would instead fly to New York this weekend to meet with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Muslim religious leader who is heading the controversial mosque project.

"He has agreed to move the location," Jones said at a late afternoon news conference outside his church in Gainesville, Fla.

"The American people do not want the mosque there. And of course Muslims do not want us to burn the Quran. ... We have agreed to cancel the event."

But Rauf issued a statement later yesterday expressing surprise at Jones's announcement.

"I am glad that Pastor Jones has decided not to burn any Qurans," the statement said.

"However, I have not spoken to Pastor Jones. I am surprised by (his) announcement. We are not going to toy with our religion or any other. Nor are we going to barter. We are here to extend our hands to build peace and harmony."

The owner of the proposed mosque site also denied a deal to abandon the project.

"It's untrue that it's being moved," Sharif El-Gamal, the property's owner, said.

"The project will proceed as planned."

The bizarre turn of events capped a day of high drama that included a condemnation of the planned Quran burning by United States President Barack Obama, a warning from Interpol of increased terror attacks and a State Department advisory telling Americans travelling overseas to beware of a violent backlash from Muslims.

The Pentagon confirmed last night that U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates had personally phoned Jones with an appeal to abandon his "International Burn a Quran Day" event.

In Washington, Obama yesterday called the Quranburning plan a "stunt" and warned it would incite violence against U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This is a recruitment bonanza for Al-Qa'ida," Obama said.

"You know, you could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan.

"(Jones) says he's someone who is motivated by his faith. I hope (Jones) listens to those better angels, and understands that this is a destructive act he's engaging in."

Jones had threatened to burn stacks of the Quran tomorrow in what he claimed was intended both as a tribute to those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and a rebuke to radical Islam.

(source:montrealgazette.com)