U.S. condemns attacks on school, church

U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer said on Monday the U.S. was dismayed at reports of attacks on a school and a church in Kashmir and Punjab.

In a statement here, Mr. Roemer said he strongly supported the appeal made by the local authorities for calm and an end to violence.

He described the desecration of the Quran by an individual in the U.S. on September 11 as “disrespectful, intolerant, divisive, and unrepresentative of American values.” “The deliberate destruction of any holy book is an abhorrent act,” he said.

“The acts of this one individual are not representative of America and American values. These acts are well outside of the American mainstream and offend millions, including myself.”