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MOSCOW, Feb 21, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A second Russian publication, a small weekly, will close for printing an illustration with the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed first published in Denmark.
The decision to shut down "Our Region" in Vologda, north of Moscow, was taken by its owner, the International Herald Tribune reported. The cartoons have drawn protests, some of them violent, throughout the Muslim world.
"Our Region" printed its illustration last Wednesday. The local governor later issued an apology to Muslims. The paper's owner Mikhail Smirnov said he decided on his own to close the weekly although prosecutors plan to bring charges against the editor, the newspaper said.
Smirnow told the Tribune by telephone that the illustration was not intended to provoke anti-Muslim sentiments. He also issued an apology.
Earlier, the city of Volgograd decided to close its official newspaper after it printed an illustration of Mohammed as well as Moses, Jesus and Buddha.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
