ISTANBUL, Feb 12: Tens of thousands of Turks rallied on Sunday in protests against the publication of cartoons of the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), burning a Danish flag and throwing stones at a French consulate.

In what appeared to be the largest such demonstration since the caricatures were first published in Denmark in September, 50,000 people massed in the main square of the eastern city of Diyarbakir, shouting anti-Danish slogans.

The demonstrators were carrying banners that read: “Long live hell for the cruel!” and “One day, the world will fall upon the infidels.” “Your freedom mask has fallen off and your real face was seen.”

Before splitting up, demonstrators also called for a boycott of all Danish products.

In Istanbul, Turkey’s biggest city, about 150 people pelted the French consulate with stones and eggs, shouting “Allah is the Greatest” and “Revenge”.

Police stopped several demonstrators from climbing over the fence surrounding the consulate on the Istiklal pedestrian street in the European part of the

city.

Another protest outside the Beyazit mosque drew about 4,000 people after prayers, with people shouting slogans hostile to Denmark, Israel and the United States and burning a Danish flag.

French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo last week published the 12 caricatures first carried by Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September.

Protests have taken place in several Turkish cities for the last days.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week sent letters to world leaders urging reconciliation between East and West following Muslim anger over the cartoons.

The drawings and their justification as freedom of expression amount to “cultural arrogance,” Erdogan said, while also condemning the violence that has marked the protests.

Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union should be seen as a step towards achieving “unity and diversity” in the world, he said.

Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country with a strictly secular system, sees itself as a bridge between East and West.—AFP The group also shouted: “Hands that reach the Prophet must be Broken.” The condemnation echoed across Turkey on Sunday.—AP/AFP