Erdogan slams cartoon of Prophet Mohammed

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday lashed out at a satirical magazine following allegations that it had published a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed, describing it as "a vile provocation".

"It is a clear provocation disguised as humour, a vile provocation," he railed, also denouncing it as a "hate crime", saying the authorities had taken over LeMan magazine and were taking legal action against it.

"Those who are insolent towards our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law."

LeMan, a weekly satirical magazine, has categorically denied the allegations, with its editor-in-chief telling AFP the image had "nothing to do with the Prophet Mohammed".

Erdogan said the authorities had seized all copies of the offending issue and were taking legal action against the publication, just hours after police arrested four of its senior staff, with warrants out for the arrest of several more.