A French weekly magazine published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, drawing criticism and threats from across the Muslim world. The government, which had urged the magazine not to publish the cartoons, planned to close embassies in 20 countries on Friday as a precaution. Officials also denied permission for a protest march against an anti-Islam film in Paris, where terror attacks had recently been foiled. A diplomat said: “Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is a direct and immediate threat.”
