La Libération, one of the biggest daily newspapers in France, ran a story titled "The Flame: A slap of Paris" on April 8, describing the "fiasco" that some people took pleasure from the suffering of others.

The story said the Paris leg of the torch relay turned into a fiasco for the organizers, a farce for the police, and a slap to the Chinese government. It also described it as a victory for those who oppose China.

The story also ignored thousands of Chinese students who came out to support the Beijing Olympics during the Paris relay and focused its attention on Tibetan separatists.

The French ambassador to China Herve Ladsous said yesterday that he felt "regretful" for the disruptions to the Olympic torch relay in Paris, and also hoped to meet Jin.

The stance of the French government is "clear" that the Olympic Games, which is a globally grand affair, should not be politicized, but achieve big success, Ladsous said.

Ladsous also reaffirmed that the French government respects China and its sovereignty over Tibet.

Meanwhile, LVMH, one of the shareholders of French retailer Carrefour, last week denied accusations by Chinese Internet users that it offered funds to the Dalai Lama to support his campaign to create an independent Tibet.

Carrefour China also denied that the French retail giant had supported Tibet separatists on behalf of Carrefour SA.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2008)