The new issue of French weekly with Prophet Mohammed cartoons set a record sale

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: French weekly Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed naked on Wednesday, ignoring disapproval from the government which called for ''responsible behaviour'' amid growing unrest over an anti-Islamic film that has seen dozens killed. AS Armenpress reports citing France24, illustrations of the Prophet Mohammed hit newsstands across France on Wednesday as weekly satirical Charlie Hebdo arrived on the shelves with controversial depictions of a naked Mohammed printed on the back page of the paper. The magazine's editor, Stephane Charbonnier, told reporters that the pictures will "shock those who will want to be shocked." But the French government condemned the decision to go ahead with publication amid a global uprising ignited by an anti-Islam video which ridicules the Prophet Mohammed. Dozens of people have been killed during the unrest, including the US ambassador to Libya, who was targeted at the consulate in Benghazi by suspected fundamentalists. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told FRANCE 24 on Tuesday that while he respects freedom of expression, he sees ''no point in such a provocation.'' Stressing that the French government would never encourage the cartoons’ publication, he called for ''reason to prevail.'' Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault issued a statement Tuesday saying: ''In the current climate, the prime minister wishes to stress his disapproval of all excess and calls on everyone to behave responsibly.'' It's not the first time that Charlie Hebdo, which is celebrated for its irreverent treatment of politicians and public figures, has courted controversy with the Muslim community. In November last year the Paris offices of the paper were firebombed after it published a mocking caricature of Mohammad on its front page.