Police in Niger Disperse Opposition Rally After Anti-Charlie Hebdo Riots

MOSCOW, January 18 (Sputnik) — Police in Niger dispersed hundreds of opposition supporters who gathered in the capital Niamey on Sunday despite the earlier ban on a demonstration, Agence France-Presse reports citing witnesses.

Police used tear gas against 300 protesters who were protesting against “bad governance”. Seven people were detained, a police source said.

On Friday, Niamey's governor banned Sunday’s demonstration as violent riots exploded in the country against cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad published by France’s Charlie Hebdo magazine.

Earlier this week, at least ten people were killed in anti-Charlie Hebdo riots in Niamey and the country’s second city of Zinder. Protesters demonstrating over the cover of the French magazine’s “survivors issue” went on a rampage, setting fire to at least eight churches. Bars, hotels and various businesses owned by non-Muslims or with connections to France were also targeted.

The riots abated by Saturday evening, with police deployed to protect the main cathedral in Niamey and other religious sites.

On January 7, two gunmen burst into the editorial office of the magazine in Paris killing 12 people and injuring 11. Following a two-day nationwide manhunt, French police found and killed the attackers. The tragedy sparked mass rallies in support of freedom of speech in the West. At the same time, people in many Muslim countries held rallies against the Charlie Hebdo publications. The post-tragedy issue of Charlie Hebdo magazine also included cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.