French goods a boycott target after Paris torch protests

An appeal circulated on the internet has urged Chinese consumers to boycott French goods following the protests that disrupted the Olympic torch relay in Paris, the Financial Times reported. Some of the companies named in the online appeal included luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Givenchy, and the cosmetics group L’Oreal. The appeal has been widely spread among young Chinese, though websites with the petition have subsequently appeared to be blocked in China. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge on Thursday made a rare statement against China, saying that the torch relay represented a "crisis" for the Olympics and that he hoped China would respect the "moral engagement" to advance human rights.