The French government is pleading for restraint after a weekly magazine known for its sharp satire published cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The cartoons have France bracing for a strong reaction at a time when Muslims around the world are rioting over an amateur anti-Islam movie produced in the U.S.

The magazine director said his staff is "not really fueling the fire," but is using its freedom of expression.

The last time this magazine did something relating to the prophet, their Paris office was firebombed.

-CNN’s Jim Bittermann reports