The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Beijing

China appeared to be trying to rein in a growing nationalistic fervor, urging its citizens to be "calm" and "rational" in the face of anti-Western protests against French retailer Carrefour that spread Sunday to more cities across the country.

More than 1,000 people carrying banners gathered for the second day in Xi'an in front of the Carrefour outlet, chanting "Oppose Tibet Independence," "Go China," and "Condemn CNN," the official Xinhua news agency reported. Demonstrations were also staged in the northeastern city of Harbin and the eastern city of Jinan. A front-page editorial in the People's Daily newspaper, the official mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party, called on people to cherish patriotism "while expressing it in a rational way."

"As citizens, we have the responsibility to express our patriotic enthusiasm calmly and rationally and express patriotic aspiration in an orderly and legal manner," the commentary said.

The commentary seemed to point to rising anxiety among China's leaders about a growing anti-Western backlash, fueled by anger over recent demonstrations against in Paris, London and San Francisco during the Olympic torch relay.

The relay has become a magnet for demonstrations against China's rule in Tibet and its human rights record.

Carrefour has been accused of supporting the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader and head of its government-in-exile - a charge the company has denied.

An employee at one of the five Harbin Carrefour stores confirmed that protests "with many people" were ongoing throughout the day Sunday, adding that the store remained open. The woman refused to be identified because she was not authorized to speak with the media.

Xinhua reported that police were monitoring all of the demonstrations, which remained peaceful.

Xinhua said one protest organizer in Xi'an, identified as Wu Sheng, said the demonstrations were not aimed at pushing customers to boycott Carrefour.

"We do not support a boycott of French companies because the economy is globalizing. We choose Carrefour front doors only because we draw more attention there," he was quoted as saying.

The protests had begun on Saturday, erupting in front of Carrefour stores in Beijing and four other major cities - Wuhan, Kunming, Xi'an and Qingdao - according to witnesses, photos and media reports.