Protests spread outside China

Demonstrations against western media bias in the reporting of the Lhasa riots have spread to the United States and Europe. The protests are also aimed at showing their support for the Beijing Olympics.

According to Shanghai Daily, thousands of overseas Chinese and Chinese students gathered in front of the Los Angeles studios of CNN demanding that Jack Cafferty, a political commentator for the network be fired. Cafferty has earned the ire of the Chinese for calling the country's products "junk" and its leaders a "bunch of goons and thugs."

CNN had issued a clarification and an apology last Thursday.

Another demonstration attended by more than 300 Chinese Americans and Chinese nationals was held near the US Capitol. The protest was against "biased remarks" about the Lhasa riots made by the US media and some politicians, the paper said.'

In Paris, more than 10,000 people held a peaceful demonstration showing their support for the Olympics and protesting biased reports about the Lhasa incident.

In the United Kingdom, separate silent demonstrations in London and Manchester were attended by more than 5,000 people.

There were also peaceful demonstrations in Berlin, Germany and Vienna, Austria.

In China, patriotic sentiments overflowed in protests held in Xi'an, Jinan, Wuhan, Harbin and Dalian. These protests followed those held last Saturday in Beijing, Xi'an, Hefei, Qingdao, Wuhao and Kunming.

Protesters in Xi'an gathered in front of a Carrefour supermarket to oppose Tibetan independence. Carrefour is the subject of boycott calls, after it was alleged that one of its major shareholders supported the Dalai Lama. LVMH has denied the allegations in a statement.

Last Sunday, Reuters reported, Chinese state media called for calm. A signed commentary in the People's Daily said that people should focus on the country's overall strength and deal with problems in a calm manner. The same was said in a Xinhua commentary published on Thursday.