The owner of French newspaper France Soir has dismissed the publication's managing editor after the paper reproduced a set of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed first published in Denmark that have created an uproar in the Muslim world.
France-Soir owner Raymond Lakah said in a statement to the agency that he "decided to remove Jacques Lefranc as managing director of the publication as a powerful sign of respect for the intimate beliefs and convictions of every individual."
"We express our regrets to the Muslim community and all people who were shocked by the publication" of the cartoons, the statement added.
The French government earlier said the decision to reprint the dozen caricatures was the "sole responsibility" of France Soir, while also reaffirming its commitment to freedom of the press.
France Soir, a once successful daily, which is now fighting to survive, said it had intended to illustrate the controversy sparked by their initial publication in Denmark's Jyllands-Posten paper in September.
Islam considers any image of the prophet blasphemous, and Muslim anger over the caricatures has boiled over into a diplomatic row threatening Danish trade interests.
{{/usCountry}}Islam considers any image of the prophet blasphemous, and Muslim anger over the caricatures has boiled over into a diplomatic row threatening Danish trade interests.
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