Churches attacked with firebombs in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: Assailants have attacked three Malaysian churches with firebombs, extensively damaging one amid a growing conflict over the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims, officials said.

Friday's attacks sharply escalated tensions in the Muslim-majority country ahead of planned protests by Muslims later Friday against a Kuala Lumpur High Court verdict which struck down a 3-year-old ban on non-Muslims using "Allah" in their literature.

The Dec. 31 court decision incensed many Muslims.

Hateful comments and threats against Christians have been posted widely on the Internet, but this is the first time the controversy has turned destructive.