Calls for French goods boycott to protest against caricatures

Protests have been held against the French president (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

Muslims in the Middle East and beyond broadened their calls for boycotts of French products and protests as a clash over depictions of the Prophet Mohammed and the limits of free speech intensified.

Kuwaiti stores pulled French yogurts and bottles of sparkling water from their shelves, Qatar University cancelled a French culture week, and calls to stay away from the Carrefour grocery store chain were trending on social media in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.