Chinese demonstrators have gone on the counter-attack, staging patriotic rallies in several cities nationwide to hit back over Olympic torch protests.

Many Chinese were shocked by disruptions of the torch relay, particularly in Paris.

French retailer Carrefour has been a target of their anger, amid calls for people to stop buying French goods.

Demonstrating outside a store in Beijing, one man denied he was urging a boycott of Carrefour, saying he was simply supporting the Olympics and opposing Tibetan independence.

Riot police sealed off streets leading to the French Embassy in the Chinese capital, as protesters gathered.

In France itself, Chinese demonstrators put on a show of strength in Paris, denouncing the way the situation in Tibet has been reported in the West.

"It is true that there are still human rights problems in China," said one woman taking part.
"But we are dealing with them. No one is perfect. Is France a perfect country? No. And neither is the United States."

Pro-China protests were also held in the UK, in London and Manchester.

There is now less than four months to go before the start of the Beijing Olympics.