Iraqis Burn French Flag to Protest 'Abuse' of Prophet

A group of about 20 Iraqis burnt the French flag near the country's embassy in Baghdad on Thursday in protest at a Paris weekly's "abuse" of the Prophet Mohammed.

French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has printed cartoons depicting Mohammed, including one on the cover of its "survivors" issue published after jihadist gunmen attacked its Paris offices, killing 12 people.

Islam bans showing the prophet in pictures.

Held under tight security, the demonstrators, many of them journalists, carried banners that read: "We demand the French authorities apologize to all Muslims," and "No, no, France".

Hassan Jumaa, director of Al-Nahar television, said he wanted France to issue an apology and "stop this abuse of the prophet and all religions."

"We reject terrorism, we are against terrorism, we fought terrorism, and our religion is a religion of tolerance," he said.

Ali Issa, an employee of the same channel, said all Muslims should protest, because "abuse of the prophet is abuse of humanity and abuse of Muslims."

Al-Qaida's Yemen-based branch claimed responsibility for the January 7 attack by two brothers, saying it was "in revenge for the prophet of God."