Thousands of people gathered in the southern Russian region of Chechnya on Monday to rally against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Protesters marched through the streets of downtown Grozny, the capital of the predominantly Muslim region, released balloons and carried posters that read "We love Prophet Muhammad".

Chechen leader Ramzan Karyrov told protesters that "Muslim people won't allow (ourselves) to be used for destabilising the situation in the country", referring to Russia.

A police spokesman told Interfax news agency that 800,000 people attended the protest on Monday, although those numbers were impossible to verify.

Russia, which has a large and restive Muslim population and waged two devastating wars against Chechen separatists in the 1990s, offered its condolences to France after the Paris attacks earlier this month.

It has warned Russian publications, however, against reprinting any Charlie Hebdo cartoons that feature the Prophet Mohammed.

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Grozny, Russia - 19 January 2015

1. Wide of people marching; men carrying banner reading (Russian): "Islam is a religion of creation and goodness"

2. Various of people marching

3. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Shakhid Zhamaldaev, Chechen Minister of National Policy, Foreign Affairs, Press and Information:

"I protest against 'Charlie' (Hebdo, French newspaper) and against the whole editorial staff, and against the rallies that have supported these colleagues. I regret that there are such people in the world."

4. Man on stage addressing crowd, mosque in background

5. Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechen President (right, wearing white and black jacket), wiping his eyes

6. Orthodox Church representatives

7. SOUDNBTIE (Russian) Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechen President:

"We are telling the world that Muslim people won't allow (ourselves) to be used for destabilising the situation in the country (referring to Russia). We were always reliable defenders of Russia. And today we can stand against any enemy of our country."

8. Close of sign reading (English): "We love Prophet Muhammad"

9. Elder men

10. Various of religious service