US pastor may halt Koran burning if asked by White House

Terry Jones

A US pastor, who is at the centre of a global outrage over his plans to burn the Koran, today suggested he might reconsider his inflammatory decision on the ninth anniversary of 9/11 if asked by the White House.

"I don't think a call from them is something we would ignore," Terry Jones, who heads the Dove World Outreach Centre, told The USA Today in an interview.

There was no immediate response from the Obama administration.

Hours earlier, US President Barack Obama, in an interview to ABC News said that Jones announcement to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday is a "recruitment bonanza" for al-Qaeda.

He hoped hoping that this does not happen.

"This could increase the recruitment of individuals who'd be willing to blow themselves up in American cities, or European cities. You know and so you know, I just hope that, he says he'ssomeone who is motivated by his faith," Obama said.

Secretary of state Hillary Clinton has also condemned the plans as "disgraceful," while military leaders have warned it could endanger troops serving in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Jones said he has not been approached so far either by the White House, the state department or the Pentagon in this regard.

If he were, Jones told the American Daily, "that would cause us to definitely think it over. That's what we're doing now."

Jones said that he is concerned about the troops and missionaries who are overseas.

"Our question is when do we stop backing down. In certain areas of our country, we have lost our backbone. We have backed down too much," he argued, indicating that as of now he is going ahead with his controversial plans.

Americans cutting across party, ideological and religious lines have said the provocative act is un-American and would endanger the lives of US nationals overseas.

Wayne Sapp, an associate pastor, told The USA Today that the church is "still in prayer over the whole thing" and could cancel it.

"God is leading us right up to the moment. It's no different than Abraham and his son. God didn't tell him, 'Go right up to the point where you might sacrifice him.' He wanted him to be fully committed. We're prepared to do what we're called to do," Sapp said.