French comic convicted of 'defending terrorism'

PARIS (AP) - French comic Dieudonne M'bala M'bala has been convicted of "defending terrorism" and given a two-month suspended prison sentence over a Facebook post made after January's three-day terror spree in Paris.

The comic, known by his stage name Dieudonne, made a posting which said "I feel like Charlie Coulibaly." The post merges the names of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine where two gunmen killed 12 people, and that of Amedy Coulibaly, who prosecutors say killed four hostages at a kosher supermarket and a policewoman.

Lawyer Muriel Ouaknine-Melki said Wednesday that the words provoked "emotion and indignation in the heart of the whole French community."

Dieudonne was in detention in January for the aforementioned Facebook post. He has a core following among disaffected youth and his provocative performances were banned last year.