Many French oppose Muhammad cartoons

Almost half of French oppose publication of cartoons depicting Islam's Prophet Muhammad, according to a poll on Sunday, as global debate deepened on the limits of free speech in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo killings.

The Ifop poll found 42 percent believe Muhammad cartoons, seen as offensive by many Muslims, should not be published. Fifty percent said they backed "limitations on free speech online and on social networks".

However, 57 percent said opposition from Muslims should not prevent the cartoons being published, according to the poll, published in Le Journal du Dimanche.