Washington/Gainesville, (US), Sep 10(DPA): A Florida pastor who wanted to burn Qurans to protest Islamic extremism said late Thursday that he might reconsider his earlier decision to call off the event.
The Reverend Terry Jones told NBC News that "we are a little back to square one" after what he claimed was a deal to relocate a controversial mosque near the former site of the World Trade Centre in New York appeared not to have materialised.
Jones had planned to burn copies of the Quran Saturday on the ninth anniversary of the Sep 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Jones said earlier Thursday that he was dropping the plans in exchange for relocating the mosque. But mosque officials in New York denied there was an agreement to move the construction site.
"Given what we are now hearing, we are forced to rethink our decision," Jones told NBC after the mosque officials denied a deal was in the works. "So as of right now, we are not cancelling the event, but we are suspending it."
In an earlier press conference, Jones said he would cancel the event, adding that he accomplished his goal. "The American people don't want the mosque there and of course Muslims do not want us to burn their Quran".
Jones said he planned to fly to New York Saturday to meet with the mosque's leader Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, but he later clarified he would not burn the Qurans regardless of what happens with the mosque. Late in the evening, he then appeared to waffle on that promise after the mosque's denial.
Jones earlier spoke to reporters in Gainesville, Florida, the site of the his Dove World Outreach Centre, which has a congregation of about 50 people. He had declared Saturday "International Burn a Koran Day", drawing fierce criticism from religious leaders of all faiths and top US officials, including President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Rauf plans to build the mosque and Islamic cultural centre, which sparked controversy because of the close proximity to the site of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.
Rauf issued a statement denying any deal with Jones to relocate the mosque and said he had not spoken to Jones. He added he had no intention to "barter" with Jones.
"I am surprised by their announcement," Rauf said. "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."
Rauf had previously said cancelling plans to build the mosque would equally anger Muslims and fuel anti-American sentiment.
Muhammad Musri of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, who appeared at the press conference with Jones, said he was arranging a meeting with Rauf.
Musri said burning the Quran would have been "a clear provocation" to Muslims, and he was grateful Jones backed off.
"I want to thank him for making the decision today to defuse the situation and bring to a positive end what has become the world over a spectacle that no one would benefit from except extremists and terrorists," Musri said.
Secretary of Defence Robert Gates took the unprecedented step of telephoning Jones directly to urge him to abandon the his plan, warning it could put US troops serving in Muslim countries in greater danger, CNN reported.
Jones was widely condemned for the plans from US officials who considered it an outrage but were also concerned burning the Quran would cause violent reprisals against US soldiers in Muslim nations as well as American diplomats and citizens overseas. They were also concerned it would fuel Islamic extremism. Despite the outrage, officials could not stop Jones because freedom of religious speech and expression is guaranteed under the Constitution.
Obama weighed in Thursday, saying it would be a "recruitment bonanza for Al Qaeda". US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton denounced the plans and said it did not represent American values. Several US officials referred to Jones and his congregation as a "fringe" group and urged the media to ignore him.
Jones' plans also sparked worldwide outrage. Demonstrations took place in Afghanistan and Indonesia, and the State Department urged Americans travelling abroad to exercise caution. Interpol, based in Paris, issued a warning of possible violent reprisals.
Local residents initially expressed relief that the burning would not move forward, but nevertheless Gainesville police were maintaining added security measures.
"We hope for the best, but we're still continuing to plan for the worst," said Bob Woods, city spokesman.