Charlie Hebdo to publish Mohammad cartoon on front page

A child holds up a sign during a tribute to the victims of the shootings by gunmen at the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, in Medellin January 11, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - Charlie Hebdo will publish a front page showing a caricature of the Prophet Mohammad holding a sign saying "Je suis Charlie" in its first edition since Islamist gunmen attacked the satirical newspaper.

With demand surging for the edition due on Wednesday, the weekly planned to print up to 3 million copies, dwarfing its usual run of 60,000, after news agents reported that large numbers of customers around the country were placing orders.

France has drafted in thousands of extra police and soldiers to provide security after 17 people were killed in three days of violence that began when two Islamist gunmen burst into CharlieHebdo's offices, opening fire in revenge for the paper'spublication of satirical images of Mohammad in the past.

The paper said the front page of its Jan. 14 edition would display a tearful Mohammad with a sign saying "Je suis Charlie"(I am Charlie) below the headline: "Tout est pardonne" (All is forgiven).

The new edition of Charlie Hebdo, known for its satirical attacks on Islam and other religions, will include other cartoons featuring the Prophet Mohammad and also making fun of politicians and other religions, its lawyer said.

"We will not back down, otherwise none of this has any meaning," Richard Malka told French radio. "If you hold the banner 'I am Charlie', that means you have the right to blaspheme, you have the right to criticise my religion."

One newspaper vendor in central Paris said he had already received 200 advance orders for Charlie Hebdo and was stopping there as he could no longer cope.

There was no official reaction from the government on the weekly's decision.

President Francois Hollande led a Paris ceremony to pay last respects to the three police officers, including one Muslim, who were killed in last week's violence. A separate funeral was heldin Jerusalem for four Jewish victims of a hostage-taking in a kosher deli in Paris.

Hollande said the police officer posted in Hebdo's offices died defending a freedom of expression based on "an insolence,an impertinence which expresses an independence".

On Sunday, at least 3.7 million people throughout France took part in marches of support for Charlie Hebdo and freedom of expression. World leaders linked arms to lead more than a million people through Paris in an unprecedented homage to the victims.

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