American troops in Afghanistan have been accused of insulting Islam after footballs bearing the name of Allah were dropped from helicopters as gifts.

The balls display flags from around the world, including that of Saudi Arabia, and carry the Koranic declaration of faith known as the shahada.

About 100 people demonstrated in the south eastern province of Khost after clerics criticised the US for insensitivity.

Mirwais Yasini, an MP, said: "To have a verse of the Koran on something you kick with your foot would be an insult in any Muslim country."

A US military spokesman said that the footballs were intended to be gifts for Afghan children adding: "Unfortunately, there was something on those footballs we didn't immediately understand to be offensive and we regret that."

Telegraph