French satirical magazine to publish new Mohammed cartoons

The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo announced on Sunday it is to publish a special edition next week with cartoons on the life of the Muslim prophet Mohammed.

The same magazine published cartoons of Mohammed in September, prompting protests worldwide that forced the temporary closure of several French institutes abroad.

It is offensive in Islam to depict images of the prophet.

The edition is due to be published on Wednesday.

"If people want to be shocked, they will be shocked," said Charlie Hebdo editor, Stephane Charbonnier, on Sunday, according to the AFP news agency.

An anti-Islam video produced in the US caused upheaval in the Middle East in September that left several people dead. Demonstrations in Benghazi, Libya at the US consulate also turned deadly, killing the US ambassador and four other Americans.

In 2006 protests over caricatures of Mohammed left more than 150 people dead.