US officer responsible for burning Korans: Karzai

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A US officer was responsible for the burning of Quran at a military base that sparked three days of deadly protests across Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai said on Thursday.

The burning was done 'out of ignorance' and the US government had admitted the mistake, Karzai told members of parliament in a meeting, according to a statement from his office.

Meanwhile, American President Barack Obama sent Karzai a letter of apology over the burning of copies of the Quran overseen by a US officer at a US military base, Karzai's office said on Thursday.

Obama said the incident was unintentional and pledged a full investigation, the president's office said, as fierce anti-US protests swept the nation in which at least 14 people have died, including two American soldiers.

"I wish to express my deep regret for the reported incident," Obama wrote in the letter presented to Karzai by US ambassador Ryan Crocker. "I extend to you and the Afghan people my sincere apologies."

"The error was inadvertent; I assure you that we will take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, to include holding accountable those responsible," the letter said.

The incident at the US military base at Bagram north of Kabul sparked three days of fierce anti-US protests in which at least 12 protesters were killed.

Two American soldiers also died when an Afghan army colleague turned his weapon on them as demonstrators approached a US base in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday, the military and officials said.

The shooter then escaped among the crowd while two protesters were killed and six wounded when the foreign soldiers returned fire, Hassan said.