China’s state media today warned citizens to ignore calls for weekend anti-government rallies in major cities, saying that similar protests across the West Asia had created chaos.

The message – carried by the Beijing Daily – came as Premier Wen Jiabao mentioned d the public’s great resentment over a number of issues in his speech to open the annual parliamentary session. The Daily said it is worth noting that at home and abroad some people with ulterior motives are trying to draw chaos into China.

It said they have used the Internet to incite illegal gatherings. The Daily urged citizens to gather for subtle strolling demonstrations – but take no overt protest action – each Sunday afternoon at designated locations in cities across China to highlight public anger with the government.

The anonymous campaigners behind the so-called “Jasmine rallies” have said their movement has support in dozens of cities, though security have turned out in force at the rally sites in Beijing and Shanghai to prevent such gatherings.