The Washington Times said Tuesday that Chinese Web sites and cellphone trees have begun urging consumers to not buy French brands and stay out of supermarkets operated by the Carrefour chain.

France was the site of angry anti-Chinese protests by supporters of Tibetan independence during last week's torch relay. Chinese were particularly irked at photographs of protesters trying to grab the torch away from a Chinese woman in a wheelchair.

The official Xinhua news agency asked in an editorial, "Is this the civil French government's behavior?"

The French Embassy in Beijing said it was aware of the growing backlash and would wait and see if it blew over.