Targeted chain says China anti-French boycott fizzling out

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — French retail giant Carrefour conducted business as usual in its many China stores Friday, after a May Day protest movement calling for a boycott fizzled out, store officials said.

"A couple of students were handing out flyers (calling for the boycott) earlier this morning, but by noon they had left," a store official in southwest China's Chongqing city told AFP by phone.

"We opened normally and have been operating normally."

Hundreds of protesters had gathered on Thursday at Carrefour outlets in Chinese cities, including Beijing, Chongqing, Shenyang, Changsha and Fuzhou, according to state press reports.

Many were holding Chinese national flags, and shouting slogans against Carrefour and Tibet independence, while showing support for...