Seven Churches Burned In Charlie Hebdo Protest

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A violent mob set light to at least seven churches in Niger during fresh protests against Charlie Hebdo magazine.

The mob rampaged through Niger's capital Niamey as anger mounted in several Muslim countries over the satirical magazine's depiction of the prophet Mohammed.

Around 1,000 youths wielding iron bars, clubs and axes stormed through the city, hurling rocks at police who responded with tear gas.

The French embassy in Niamey urged its citizens to stay at home.

Yesterday, a rally against Charlie Hebdo in the country's second city of Zinder left four dead and 45 injured.

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Gallery: Niger Protests Over Charlie Hebdo

Smoke billows in a street near the grand mosque in Niamey as people demonstrate against French weekly Charlie Hebdo's publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed

This picture shows a charred vehicle burnt out during the protests, after thousands of protesters gathered following Friday prayers

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A ransacked church burns after it was set ablaze

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Protesters burned a French flag in the city of Zinder

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This church was ransacked before it was set ablaze

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"Be very cautious, avoid going out," the embassy said on its website as rioters also ransacked several French-linked businesses, including telephone kiosks run by Orange.

Some 20 Muslim scholars called for calm in the Niger capital.

"Don't forget that Islam is against violence. I urge men and women, boys and girls to calm down," one of the Muslim elders, preacher Yaou Sonna, told state television in Niamey.

In his first reaction to the violence, which also erupted in Pakistan on Friday, President Francois Hollande emphasised that "freedom of expression" was "non-negotiable."

Some 15,000 people also rallied in Russia's Muslim North Caucasus region of Ingushetia against Charlie Hebdo, which depicted on its most recent cover a weeping prophet holding a "Je suis Charlie" sign.

With France still reeling from last week's deadly attacks that killed 17 people, countries across Europe have stepped up security.

Soldiers are patrolling the streets of Belgium for the first time in 35 years.

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