French mufti threatened after Algeria comments

A senior member of the Muslim community in the French city of Marseille has refused an offer of police protection after he received death threats for criticising those who carried out massacres in Algeria.

The mufti of Marseille, Soheib Bencheikh, sent police bodyguards away, saying he didn't feel threatened.

On Monday, Mr Bencheikh said those who carried out the massacres in Algeria were barbarians whose actions had nothing to do with the Koran.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service