Protesters target France over obscene Prophet cartoons

PARIS: France was swept up Thursday in the wave of anger washing over the Muslim world as protesters in Afghanistan and Iran denounced a magazine's publication of obscene cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

Chanting "Death to France! Death to America!", hundreds demonstrated in the Afghan capital Kabul against the cartoons and a US-made anti-Islam film that has sparked widespread outrage.

In Tehran, up to 100 people protested in front of France's embassy, chanting "Death to France!" as dozens of police deployed around the compound prevented the crowd from approaching.

France has been bracing for a backlash following Wednesday's publication of the cartoons -- two of which show the founder of Islam naked -- by satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

In anticipation of potential protests on Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, Paris said it would shutter its diplomatic missions, cultural centres and French schools in around 20 Muslim countries.

More than 30 people have been killed in attacks and violent protests linked to the film "Innocence of Muslims", including 12 people who died in an attack by a female suicide bomber in Afghanistan and four Americans, among them the US ambassador, killed at the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

The crudely made film -- produced by US-based extremist Christians and depicting the Prophet as a thuggish womaniser -- has triggered protests in at least 20 countries since excerpts were posted online.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon joined condemnation of the film on Wednesday, saying freedom of expression should not be abused to provoke or humiliate some others' values and beliefs.

"Freedom of expression, while it is a fundamental right and privilege, should not be abused by such people, by such a disgraceful and shameful act," Ban said.

The low-budget, amateurish video appears to have been the work of Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, an Egyptian Coptic Christian and convicted fraudster living in California who went into hiding Saturday.

Cast members have said they had no idea the video was about Mohammed, as all references to him were dubbed over the original video later. One actress in the film, Cindy Lee Garcia, said she is suing the reputed producer.

Protests against the film took place in many countries on Wednesday, including in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Sri Lanka.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has called for protests all week in Lebanon and major demonstrations are expected in Pakistan on Friday, where the government has declared a national holiday in honour of Mohammed.

Washington has also moved to boost security amid the protests, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying the United States was taking aggressive steps to protect diplomatic missions worldwide.

The US embassy in Jakarta said all its diplomatic missions in Indonesia would be closed Friday because of the potential for significant demonstrations.

Singapore on Thursday joined countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan that have blocked access to YouTube following the site's release of the clip of the film.

In France, police said Thursday they had forbidden a demonstration planned for Saturday in front this city's Grand Mosque.

The interior ministry has said it will deny all requests for permits to protest the film after a demonstration last weekend near the US embassy in Paris turned violent.

Leaders of France's Muslim community -- the largest in western Europe -- said an appeal for calm would be read in mosques across the country on Friday but also condemned Charlie Hebdo for publishing insulting images.

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said anyone offended by the cartoons could go to court, but he also stressed that in France freedom of expression is guaranteed, including the freedom to caricature.

Charlie Hebdo's editor, Stephane Charbonnier, described those getting irate over the cartoons as ridiculous clowns and accused the government of pandering to them by criticising the magazine for being provocative.

Source: MOLE