Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla. said on Saturday that his church will "not today, not ever" burn the Quran.

The announcement comes following weeks of outrage and protests over Jones' plans to burn hundreds of copies of the Muslim holy book on this year's anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

On Friday, Jones said that he was rethinking his plans after a Florida imam had allegedly promised him that a proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero would be relocated. The imam said Jones' recounting of their conversation was "exaggerated" and that he had only promised to schedule a meeting between Jones and the Islamic center's developer Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.

Jones then flew to New York where told NBC's "Today" show that his church will not go through with the demonstration even if the Islamic center is not moved.

The pastor said that his church's goal was to "expose that there is an element of Islam that is very dangerous and very radical" and that they had "definitely accomplished that."

Jones further noted that no meeting with Rauf is currently scheduled but that he hopes one will take place.

Protests in favor of and against Rauf's project are planned to take place this weekend.