Religious leaders protest Quran burning

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Island religious leaders spoke out Friday against a Florida church's plan to burn copies of the Quran.

The Rhode Island State Council of Churches and other interfaith leaders held a protest at the statute of Roger Williams on Congdon Street. They called the plan by the Rev. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center an "abomination."

Jones announced plans to burn the Muslim holy book on the anniversary of 9/11 to protest  what he called Islamic extremism.

On Friday, Jones said he would not hold the burning, if he was able to meet Saturday with the organizers planning to build an Islamic cultural center near ground zero in New York.

The imam leading the effort to build the mosque said Friday afternoon he had no plans to meet with Jones.