The Chinese criticisms towards Stone's ruthless comments have led to a call to ban her movies from being shown in all Chinese cinemas. Also, online readers from many foreign countries have ridiculed her "karma" comments.

"I would like to apologize for Sharon Stone's comments. They are, at best, the rantings of a drunk idiot," Christopher Grigg, an American who wrote to China.org.cn from Nashville.

"Discourse about politics between Tibet and China are not appropriate in this setting. The comments she made were very similar to the Christian fundamentalists' comments after Katrina hit New Orleans. 'God made Katrina hit New Orleans because gay people and poor black people live there'. Both instances are inexcusable and do not reflect the people I associate with. Most Americans I know hope that the Chinese people are able to stay strong and together through this tragedy," he said.

"As an American, it makes me embarrassed that Sharon Stone would be so ignorant. She does not represent the feelings of most of us, nor should she be given any press. She is just another useless Hollywood elitist opening her mouth rather than her heart, and that is far too often the case," wrote a reader who called himself Kevin, on the China Daily's web forum.

Many Chinese English readers at home and abroad commented that what Stone said at Cannes is shockingly insulting.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday he had taken note of Stone's apology.

"We hope that as an actress she should contribute to our two peoples' mutual trust, understanding and friendship," he said.

The death toll in China's major earthquake increased by 119 to 68,977 as of Saturday noon, China's Information Office of the State Council said.

(China.org.cn June 1, 2008)