TWO Americans, believed to be a US colonel and major, were shot dead inside Afghanistan's Interior Ministry building yesterday, while rage gripped the country for a fifth day over the burning of copies of the Muslim holy book at a Nato base.

A spokeswoman for Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) confirmed two servicemen had been shot dead in central Kabul by an individual who turned his weapon on them. She declined to say if the killer was a member of the Afghan military or police.

Two Afghan officials had said the ministry shooting did not involve any Afghans. But Nato spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jimmie Cummings said: "Initial reports say it was not a Western shooter."

Afghanistan's Taliban movement claimed responsibility for the shootings, which it said were in retaliation for the desecration of the Korans at Bagram airfield.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that four high-ranking Americans had been killed, though the Islamist group often exaggerates and inflates claims of casualties.

The Koran burnings underscored the deep cultural divide that still exists more than 10 years after US troops invaded to oust the Taliban and has deepened public mistrust of Western troops struggling to stabilise the country.

General John Allen, commander of Nato and US forces, said all Nato personnel are being recalled from Afghan ministries "for obvious force protection reasons".

He confirmed that Nato is investigating yesterday's shooting and will pursue all leads to find the person responsible for the attack.

An Afghan security source said the shooting of the two Americans in the interior ministry could be connected to the Koran burning.

Muslims consider the Koran to be the literal word of God and treat each copy with deep reverence. Desecration is considered one of the worst forms of blasphemy.

Four Afghans were shot dead by Afghan security forces as demonstrators came out onto the streets yesterday, with an attempt by protesters to bombard a UN compound in the north.

Despite an apology from US President Barack Obama and a call for restraint from Afghan leader Hamid Karzai, thousands of people have taken to the streets. Twelve people were killed and dozens wounded on Friday, the bloodiest day yet in demonstrations.

On Thursday, an Afghan national army soldier joined the protests and gunned down two American soldiers.

Hundreds of people tried to overrun a compound in the northern Kunduz province housing workers from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, but were held back by police, interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

A similar incident occurred in April last year when protesters angered by the burning of Korans by an obscure pastor in the United States stormed a UN compound in northern Balkh province, killing seven people.

The protests could dent plans for a strategic pact that Washington is considering with Kabul, which would allow a sharply reduced number of Western troops to stay in the country well beyond their combat exit deadline.

■afghanistan