GAINESVILLE, Fla. - A Florida minister who had created an international furore with his plan to burn the Qur'an on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks canceled the event under intense pressure Thursday, saying he agreed to back off after reaching a deal to move the location of a controversial mosque near New York's ground zero. The Rev. Terry Jones announced his decision Thursday afternoon, standing outside his small church alongside Imam Muhammad Musri, the president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida. However, Musri and the imam planning the New York mosque disputed Jones' contention that a deal had been cut. After the news conference, Musri told The Associated Press there was an agreement for him and Jones to travel to New York and meet Saturday on the actual anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with the imam overseeing plans to build a mosque near ground zero. "I told the pastor that I personally believe the mosque should not be there, and I will do everything in my power to make sure it is moved," Musri said. "But there is not any offer from there (New York) that it will be moved. All we have agreed to is a meeting, and I think we would all like to see a peaceful resolution." Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf said he was surprised by the announcement and that he would not barter. Jones, the pastor of a Florida Pentecostal church of 50 members, has said that he believes the Qur'an is evil because it espouses something other than biblical truth and incites radical, violent behavior among Muslims. Jones on Thursday said he prayed about the decision and that if the site of the mosque was moved, it would be a sign from God to call off the Qur'an burning.
