Chirac asks media to avoid offending religions

French President Jacques Chirac today asked the media to avoid offending religious beliefs as a French newspaper reprinted caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed that have sparked violent protests in the Muslim world.

Chirac said during a Cabinet meeting that he condemned “obvious provocations” likely to kindle passions.

Today the satirical French weekly Charlie-Hebdo reprinted the drawings originally published in September by a Danish newspaper, as well as new caricatures of its own.

One drawing took up its entire front page.

Under the headline “Mohammed Overwhelmed by the Fundamentalists,” the cover depicted the prophet with his head in his hands, remarking, “It’s hard to be loved by idiots.”

Charlie Hebdo quickly sold out all 160,000 copies of the issue printed - 60,000 more than the usual printing each week, spokeswoman Liliane Roudiere said.

The weekly was printing another 150,000 copies for tomorrow, she said.

Philippe Val, the weekly’s executive editor, said he published the caricatures as a show of solidarity.