Protests against Obama 'chimp' cartoon planned

A national US civil rights organisation is planning protests in dozens of US cities over the New York Post cartoon that critics say likened a violent chimpanzee to President Barack Obama.

The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People said demonstrations will be held in more than 50 cities to call on local Fox television stations to protest the February 18 cartoon.

The group also is decrying what it calls "racial insensitivity" and lack of diversity at the paper and the Fox News Channel.