About 15,000 people protested in Afghanistan on Saturday to condemn the reprinting of a cartoon of the noble Prophet Mohammad in Danish newspapers and a film on the noble Koran by a Dutch politician.

In the western city of Heart, protesters burned Danish and Dutch flags and chanted anti-Western slogans.

Afghans also gathered in the eastern province of Kunar, on the border with Pakistan.

Saturday's protests were the largest in the past fortnight in Afghanistan and, like previous demonstrations, marchers demanded the expulsion of Dutch and Danish troops who operate under NATO's command in the country.

There were no casualties and both protests ended peacefully.

The reprinting of the cartoon and the planned release of the film coincide with recent massacres by Israel into Gaza, where more than 120 Palestinian civilians have been killed.

The developments have angered many in the Muslim world and prompted a series of protests in Afghanistan where Taliban militants are fighting against the government and foreign troops.

Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders is expected to release his film later this month.

The Taliban have branded the planned film and reprinting of the cartoon as part of a "Crusade war" against Muslims.

PHOTO CAPTION 

Afghan protesters march during a protest in Loger province, March 5, 2008. [Reuters]