French Satirical Magazine Offices Gutted By Fire After 'Muhammad Issue'

An edition of satirical French magazine "Charlie Hebdo" due to be published on November 2 was to feature cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

The offices of French satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdo," which had listed the Prophet Muhammad as guest "editor" for this week's edition, have been destroyed by an overnight fire.

The AFP news agency quoted a witness as saying the fire was set off by what appeared to be a petrol bomb hurled through the window.

"Charlie Hebdo" said this week's edition was intended to "celebrate" the victory of an Islamist party in Tunisia's recent elections.

It renamed itself "Charia (Sharia) Hebdo" for the occasion, and the cover showed a cartoon depicting the Islamic prophet stating: "100 lashes if you don't die of laughter!"

The magazine's editor, Stephane Charbonnier, was quick to condemn the attack.

"These people have reacted violently to an edition that isn't even on the stands yet, hasn't even come out yet, that nobody's even seen, just on the basis of rumor or -- we don't know what," he said. "They just got this idea, and here's the result."

"Charlie Hebdo" was criticized by Muslims in 2007 when it reprinted Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad that had sparked outrage in the Islamic world.

compiled from agency and media reports