BBC News with Fiona MacDonald

The threat by the pastor of a fringe Christian church in Florida to burn copies of the Koran on the ninth anniversary of the September 11th attacks has prompted warnings of possible violent protests in other countries from both the international police agency and the US State Department. Interpol has issued a global alert while the US State Department warned Americans abroad of possible anti-US protests. Hugh Schofield reports.

In an official alert to its 188 member countries, Interpol warned of what it called a "strong likelihood" of violent attacks should the Koran burning go ahead. Interpol said its initiative followed a request from the Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik who'd personally contacted its Secretary General Ronald Noble. Mr Noble said that September 11th was a day when the world should come together to fight terrorism, not a day for provocative acts which will only serve to inspire more attacks against the United States.