More than seven churches set ablaze in Niger over Charlie Hebdo.

At least seven churches were burned Saturday in Niger’s capital Niamey during rioting in response to the publication of a Prophet Mohammed cartoon in France’s Charlie Hebdo magazine, an AFP correspondent reported.

The sites, which were primarily evangelical churches, were torched on the left bank of Niamey, several of them housed in small villas that bore no distinctive religious signs. Protesters were also headed for the right bank, which also contains numerous churches.

Around 100 helmeted riot police stood in front of the Niamey cathedral at midday, protecting it from a crowd of stone-throwing youths. Earlier, police fired tear gas to disperse some 1,000 youths in front of the city’s grand mosque and AFP witnessed protesters in several parts of the city armed with iron bars and clubs.

France’s embassy in Niamey warned French citizens to stay indoors after rioters also ransacked several French-linked businesses, including telephone kiosks run by Orange.