U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday called for religious tolerance ahead of the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, asking people not to "turn on each other."

Obama made the remarks during a news conference in the White House. Admitting when the country is anxious, fears and suspicion can surface, he asked people to hang on to religious tolerance, and not to "turn on each other."

The remarks came at a time when the country is ready to commemorate on Saturday the deadly attacks on American soil that took thousands of lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and when a spate of controversy involving religion such as a planned mosque near the New York Ground Zero site took center stage in national debate.

Also on Thursday, Florida Pastor Terry Jones said he is to call off the controversial plan to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday, but backed away from the statement later, saying he only suspended the plan. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called Jones to voice concerns and asked him to nix the plan. Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have pleaded Jones publicly to rethink the plan.

Obama said the engagement of the administration is not meant to "elevate" the previously obscure Jones. He said burning the Koran would do "profound damage" to U.S. interests abroad, and the country's enemy is not Islam, but extremist groups such as al- Qaeda.