FRESH protests have broken out across China with thousands of demonstrators targeting US broadcaster CNN and French chain store Carrefour in disputes over Tibetan unrest and the Beijing Olympics.
The latest protests came after rallies yesterday at branches of Carrefour, which has been subject to boycotts by Chinese consumers over its alleged support of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama - a claim it denies.
Protesters also targeted the CNN TV network over its commentator Jack Cafferty, who incensed authorities here last week when he called the Chinese leadership "goons and thugs`` and slammed China for exporting unsafe products.
"This was a patriotic movement, people want CNN and Carrefour to apologise,`` Wang Zheng, a protester at a Carrefour store said.
"We oppose Tibetan and Taiwan independence and we also oppose the politicisation of the Olympic Games.``
In today`s protests, demonstrators chanted slogans and held banners that read "Oppose Tibet independence,``
"Oppose CNN`s anti-China statements,`` and "Boycott Carrefour``.
According to the official Xinhua news agency, more than 1,000 people assembled in front of the Carrefour in Xian, while demonstrations also occurred at stores in China`s northeastern city of Harbin and the eastern city of Jinan.
Meanwhile, Internet chatrooms have been awash with accusations that Carrefour - despite its denials - has supported the exiled government of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
The protests in China have followed noisy anti-China demonstrations in London, Paris and San Francisco that have marred the international Beijing Olympic torch relay, an event aimed at promoting this summer`s Games.
Anti-China demonstrations have grown internationally since China began quelling unrest in Tibet that erupted in March 14 when peaceful protests turned into violent riots and spread through neighbouring Tibetan-populated areas.
Exiled Tibetan leaders say more than 150 people have died in the government crackdown.
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