At least two churches were torched in Niger's capital Saturday as protests raged on against the publication of a Prophet Muhammed cartoon by the French weekly Charlie Hebdo, an AFP correspondent on the scene reported.
Around 100 helmeted riot police stood in front of the Niamey cathedral at midday, protecting it from a crowd of stone-throwing youths. Earlier, police fired tear gas to disperse some 1,000 youths in front of the city's grand mosque and AFP witnessed protesters in several parts of the city armed with iron bars and clubs.
France's embassy in Niamey warned French citizens to stay indoors after rioters also ransacked several French-linked businesses, including telephone kiosks run by Orange.
"Be very cautious, avoid going out," the embassy said on its website.
Saturday's protest came a day after a policeman and three civilians were killed and 45 injured in protests against Charlie Hebdo in Niger's second city of Zinder, which saw three churches ransacked and the French cultural centre burned down.
Thousands of Muslims demonstrated across the world on Friday, venting fury over the new Prophet Muhammed cartoon that Charlie Hebdo published in the wake of Islamist attacks on its offices and elsewhere in Paris last week.
Many Muslims see any depiction of Islam's prophet as offensive, while many Western governments support Charlie Hebdo's position that publishing the cartoons is an exercise in freedom of expression.
French President Francois Hollande on Saturday stressed that the country had "principles, values, notably freedom of expression".
The satirical weekly has repeatedly published cartoons of Muhammed over the years and its latest issue, released on Wednesday, features a cartoon of Muhammed on its cover holding a "Je Suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) sign under the headline "All is forgiven".
It came a week after attacks by three Islamists on its offices, a kosher supermarket and a policewoman left 17 people dead in and around Paris over three days, in raids that deeply shocked the country and sparked an outpouring of international support.
AFP
Sat Jan 17 2015
![At least two churches burned in Niger as Charlie Hebdo protests rage At least two churches burned in Niger as Charlie Hebdo protests rage](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-01/41421502881_295x200.jpg)
People stand in front of a church which was set on fire by protesters during a demonstration. - AFP Photo/Boureima Hama
![PM Thailand disahkan positif COVID-19 PM Thailand disahkan positif COVID-19](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/81694770094_SretthaThavisinPh.jpg)
PM Thailand disahkan positif COVID-19
Perdana Menteri Thailand Srettha Thavisin mengesahkan hari ini bahawa beliau positif COVID-19.
![Dua hilang, tiga selamat insiden bot karam di Belaga Dua hilang, tiga selamat insiden bot karam di Belaga](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718556694_TBbotkaram.jpg)
Dua hilang, tiga selamat insiden bot karam di Belaga
Dua penumpang hilang manakala tiga lagi terselamat dalam insiden bot karam di Long Menjawah, Sungai Rajang, Belaga, petang tadi.
Daftar JHEV, kemas kini maklumat untuk bantuan
Veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) disaran agar mendaftar dengan Jabatan Hal Ehawal Veteran (JHEV) ATM serta persatuan-persatuan di lokalti masing-masing dan mengemas kini maklumat semasa melalui sistem VIBES 2.0.
Rumah jadi tempat proses ketum diserbu
Polis menyerbu sebuah rumah pusaka yang dijadikan tempat memproses air ketum dan berjaya menahan dua lelaki, pada Sabtu.
188 rakyat Malaysia jadi mangsa di beberapa negara
Daripada jumlah yang dikenalpasti, sekurang-kurang 109 warga Malaysia terjebak aktiviti 'jobscam' di Myanmar.
Ribuan umat Islam tunaikan solat Aidiladha di Al-Aqsa
Pagi Ahad, ribuan umat Islam berkumpul di masjid tersebut bagi menunaikan Solat Sunat Aidiladha. Lelaki, wanita bahkan kanak-kanak, sebaik sahaja matahari mula terbit, ramai yang sudah ke masjid berkenaan bagi menunaikan solat.
544 kes libat rampasan RM5.18 juta di Sabah tahun ini
Pengarahnya George Abas berkata tindakan itu hasil pemeriksaan ke atas 31,206 premis perniagaan, dan kompaun sebanyak RM62,300 serta denda mahkamah berjumlah RM20,000 dikenakan terhadap mereka yang sabit kesalahan.
Agong, Raja Permaisuri zahir ucapan selamat menyambut Aidiladha
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim dan Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah menzahirkan ucapan selamat menyambut Aidiladha kepada seluruh umat Islam di negara ini.
10 maut bas bawa pelancong terjatuh dalam gaung di India
Pasukan penyelamat bergegas ke tempat kejadian sebaik insiden berlaku dan membawa penumpang cedera melalui kawasan pergunungan untuk ke hospital.
Israel jeda operasi taktikal, buka ruang untuk bantuan
Tentera Israel mengumumkan pada Ahad akan menghentikan seketika operasi taktikal ketenteraan di Semenanjung Gaza untuk memberi ruang kepada penghantaran bantuan kemanusiaan.
![Misteri telefon Garfield sering terdampar di pantai selama 30 tahun terbongkar! Misteri telefon Garfield sering terdampar di pantai selama 30 tahun terbongkar!](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-03/51553908126_TBGARFIELDPHONE.jpg)
Misteri telefon Garfield sering terdampar di pantai selama 30 tahun terbongkar!
Lebih 30 tahun sejak telefon Garfield berwarna jingga sering terdampar di pantai Finistere, Perancis - akhirnya misteri terbongkar.