Gingrich criticizes Quran burning apology by US

SPOKANE, Wash. — GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is expressing outrage over a U.S. apology to Afghan authorities for burned Qurans on a military base.

Gingrich lashed out Thursday at the Obama administration for the formal apology. Copies of the Muslim holy book were found burned in a garbage pit on a U.S. air field.

President Barack Obama's apology was announced Thursday morning. A few hours later, news organizations reported that an Afghan soldier had killed two U.S. troops and wounded others in retaliation for the Quran burning.

Campaigning in Washington state, Gingrich says Afghan President Hamid Karzi owes the U.S. an apology for the shootings and that the Afghans "do not deserve the apology of the United States."

The Obama administration says the apology is appropriate given the religious sensitivities involved.