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China protests target CNN, French store

  • Story Highlights
  • Protesters gather outside French stores in China
  • Demonstrators angry over disruption of Olympic torch relay in Paris
  • CNN also under fire for remarks by commentator Jack Cafferty
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BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Protests against Tibetan independence have continued Sunday in several Chinese cities, according to the country's state-run news agency.

Demonstrators also expressed their anger about what they see as biased reporting of the Tibet story by Western media organizations including CNN.

Protesters gathered outside the French supermarket Carrefour in several Chinese cities including the northwestern city Xi'an, and the northeastern city Harbin and eastern city Jinan, the agency reported.

The demonstrators expressed anger at the way protests disrupted the Olympic torch relay in Paris on April 7. During Sunday's demonstrations in China, some held banners condemning "Tibet secessionists in France tearing up the Five-Star Red Flag," according to Xinhua.

Protesters were also heard shouting anti-CNN slogans. This criticism comes after remarks recently made by CNN commentator Jack Cafferty.

Thousands of Chinese also demonstrated outside Carrefour on Saturday in east-central city of Wuhan. And on Saturday about 1,500 pro-Chinese demonstrators gathered outside of CNN's bureau in Los Angeles demanding that a Cafferty apologize and be fired from the network over comments critical of China and the U.S. government's relationship with it.

On April 9, Jack Cafferty, a commentator on CNN's "Situation Room" program, used the term "goons and thugs" while describing the conditions in China years ago.

Cafferty issued a clarification of his remarks Monday, saying the comments referred to the Chinese government, not its people.

In the comments, Cafferty referenced what he called billions of dollars in U.S. debt and trade deficits with China.

"So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed," he said. "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."

In addition to Cafferty's clarification, the network also issued a statement saying the commentator was referring to China's government, not its people.

"It was not Mr. Cafferty's, nor CNN's intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and (CNN) would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way," the statement said. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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