Demonstrations erupt in Carrefour's China outlets

BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Demonstrations involving hundreds of people erupted in front of Carrefour outlets in some Chinese cities on Thursday.

Protesters held Chinese national flags and shouted slogans against Carrefour and "Tibet independence" in front of the outlets of the French retailer in Changsha, Fuzhou and Shenyang.

They also expressed support for the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at a Carrefour outlet around 10 a.m. in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan province.

They held banners of "Support Olympics", "Oppose Tibet Independence" "Love China" and "Unity is Power." Many people signed their names on the banners and joined chanting slogans.

Some young people handed out national flags and leaflets on the square outside a Carrefour store in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian province.

About 400 people are gathering on the square discussing protest plans.

Local officials and about 40 policemen have arrived at the scene to maintain order.