GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) —

A Florida church is rebuffing warnings by the U.S. military’s top official in Afghanistan to cancel a scheduled Sept. 11 burning of the Muslim holy book.

Pastor Terry Jones told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he agrees his plan to burn the Quran could provoke violent opposition.

However, Jones says America should quit apologizing for its actions and bowing to kings.

Jones is the head of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville.

Gen. David Petraeus says the plan to burn the Quran there could endanger U.S. troops and the safety of Americans worldwide.

He says images of the Quran burning would be used by Islamic extremists to inflame and incite violence.

• Associated Press