Pastor says Quran burning still scheduled for Sept. 11

On Wednesday, after announcing that he is, for now, going ahead with plans to burn at least one Quran on Sept. 11, Dove World Outreach Center Pastor Terry Jones held a private meeting inside his church with the imam of the Islamic Society of Central Florida.

"As you can imagine, we have received very much pressure in the direction of canceling this event," Jones, 58, told a gathering of reporters from all over the world, whose numbers were greater than the congregation of his church, which totals about 50. "As of this time, we have no intention of canceling."

Muhammad Musri, imam of the Islamic Society of Central Florida in Orlando, drove to Gainesville on Wednesday morning to attend an interfaith service at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Musri then drove to Dove World and waited through Jones' announcement to speak with him. After the pastor, who did not answer reporters' questions, went back into the building, Musri was let inside and the two met in Jones' office for about 40 minutes. Musri's assistant, Bassem Chaaban, waited outside, talking with reporters and holding his copy of the Quran.

"I told him the world would admire your courage if you come out and say, 'Because of my devotion to Christ and the Bible, I'm going to do the right thing.' " Musri said. "I strongly believe at the end of the day that he is going to make the right step and call off this event."

Musri said he believes that Jones thinks American Muslims are peaceful. He did not address a sign in the church's front yard reading, "Islam is of the devil," nor Jones' many statements online that Islam is evil.

The Vatican, the White House, the U.S. Secretary of State, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, various worldwide Islamic and Jewish groups, along with a chorus of Christian organizations have condemned Jones' plans to burn the Muslim holy book. Most say it is simply disrespectful, while Gen. David Patraeus said it could cause violence against American troops stationed overseas.

Florida National Guard Sgt. Terrance Long of Ocala is currently stationed with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. He e-mailed The Gainesville Sun to pass along a message to Jones not to burn the Quran.

"Mr. Jones, I am begging you ... PLEASE halt what you are planning," Long wrote. "I fear that what you are planning will have a devastating outcome for those of us serving abroad in harm's way to keep our families and fellow Americans, including yourself, safe and secure. I pray that you will search your heart and ask yourself if this act is truly worth what it will cost all of us Americans in possible bloodshed, bloodshed that will come directly because of your personal actions."

Meantime on Wednesday, the city of Gainesville's top administrator said that he will send Dove World a bill for the estimated tens of thousands of dollars it will cost to police the area if the church goes through with its plan to burn the Quran.

"We definitely plan on sending him a bill," City Manager Russ Blackburn said at City Hall.

Blackburn declined to say how much he anticipates the event will cost the city, but he said it will be substantial because of the personnel and equipment it will take to patrol the area in case anything happens.

And after a number of death threats against Jones have been made, law enforcement officials say they are preparing for anything.

"We have to plan for the worst," Blackburn said.

But, Blackburn said he wasn't sure what authority the city had to compel Jones to pay.

Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell said she also would consider billing Dove World for the expenses her agency will incur.

"The way that it is evolving, it definitely looks like it is going to be a large-scale event for Saturday, and it looks like there will be some costs as a result of him initiating and causing this to happen, so I think it is reasonable for him to pay for the cost," Darnell said.