Niger president: 10 dead after protests against French magazine cartoon of Islam's prophet

FILE-In this file photo taken Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, French investigating Police officers walk outside the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo's office, in Paris. Security forces in Niger used tear gas Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters taking part in a banned demonstration in the capital. The political altercation came after 10 people were killed in two days of violent protests against a French publication’s cartoon depicting Islam’s prophet.(AP Photo/Francois Mori,File) (The Associated Press)

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In this video frame grab made available by Associated Press Television News, protesters chant and raise their arms in Niamey, Niger, Saturday Jan. 17, 2015. Security forces in Niger used tear gas Sunday to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters taking part in a banned demonstration in the capital. The political altercation came after 10 people were killed in two days of violent protests against a French publication’s cartoon depicting Islam’s prophet. (AP Photo/APTN) (The Associated Press)

In this video frame grab made available by Associated Press Television News, a motorcyclist rides past a burning roadblock in Niamey, Niger, Saturday Jan. 17, 2015. Security forces in Niger used tear gas Sunday to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters taking part in a banned demonstration in the capital. The political altercation came after 10 people were killed in two days of violent protests against a French publication’s cartoon depicting Islam’s prophet. (AP Photo/APTN) (The Associated Press)

NIAMEY, Niger – The president of Niger says at least 10 people have been killed after violent protests over a French publication's cartoon depicting Islam's prophet.

President Mahamadou Issoufou said that five deaths were reported after demonstrations in the capital of Niamey on Saturday. The victims were inside churches and bars that were set ablaze, he said.

On Friday, at least five people were killed in the town of Zinder after prayer services there.

The violence erupted after the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo published a new cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad. The issue, published Wednesday, was the first following a Jan. 7 terrorist attack on its headquarters that left 12 dead.

Physical depictions of the prophet are considered blasphemous, and protests have erupted in a number of predominantly Muslim countries this week.