The leaders also denounced what they said was a gathering ''anti-Muslim frenzy'' in the US, describing recent protests against the building of an Islamic cultural centre near Ground Zero in New York as the result of ''misinformation and outright bigotry'' against American Muslims.

An interfaith group of evangelical, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders meeting in Washington condemned the call by Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville to burn copies of the Muslim holy book to ''expose Islam'' as a ''violent and oppressive religion''.

The leaders said the plan was a violation of American values.

''This is not the America that we all have grown to love and care about,'' said Rabbi Steve Gutow of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. ''We have to stand up for our Muslim brothers and sisters and say, 'This is not OK.' ''

Mr Jones's plans were also condemned by the White House and by the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who described them as a disrespectful and disgraceful act.

The commander of US forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, warned that the act would endanger the lives of US forces overseas. The White House press spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said: ''Obviously any type of activity like that, that puts our troops in harm's way, would be a concern to this administration.''

The 58-year-old preacher, whose congregation numbers about 30, said they planned to burn about 200 copies of the Koran to send a message to al-Qaeda, the group behind the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.

''That led us to 'International Burn a Koran Day' to honour those who were murdered at that time,'' Mr Jones said.

He later qualified his remarks, saying that they were not directed towards moderate Muslims.

''We are not hateful toward Muslims. We are not aiming this at Muslims, we are aiming this at sharia law.''

Mr Jones was dismissed as a fringe figure by locals who regretted his growing notoriety.

''He represents only 30 people in this town,'' said Larry Reimer, a local pastor. ''It needs to get out somehow to the rest of the world that this isn't the face of Christianity.''

Mr Jones has previously called for a ban on the building of new mosques in America and a halt to the immigration of Muslims.

The tiny church's actions are testing the bounds of religious tolerance, but authorities are powerless to stop the protest because the first amendment to the constitution guarantees freedom of speech. Fire officials were said to have denied the church a fire permit for Saturday.

The planned burning has triggered emotions across the world and fuelled protests in Muslim nations.

with agencies