A Lithuanian soldier and two Afghan civilians were killed when gunfire broke out during a protest over a US soldier’s shooting of a Koran in Iraq. Burhanuddin Rabbani, a former Afghan president, said he had established contact with the Taliban several months ago and had received a letter containing “some encouraging messages” from the Taliban. Four NATO soldiers were wounded in an apparent suicide car bombing in eastern Afghanistan. Italy will be “more flexible” on rules of engagement for its troops in Afghanistan.
