Child moons China's premier-to-be

Beijing, Feb 7 (AFP) State media coverage of a routine visit to a home by China's incoming premier Li Keqiang has become a colourful Internet sensation after a boy appeared on camera half-naked. Internet users were today circulating the CCTV state television footage from the northern city of Baotou, cheering the rare unplanned blip in usually staid government-controlled coverage of officials' tightly scripted trips. Li -- who is set to be promoted to national premier next month -- was speaking with the man of the house in a modest bedroom when the boy popped out of a wardrobe behind them not wearing any underwear. He quickly ducked under the blanket of a bed, exposing his buttocks to the cameras as he did so. "The kid was having fun as if there was nothing special going on in front of him, it was amusing," said one Internet user going by the name Hongtailang. "It is rare to see this kind of image on TV." State television regularly reports on the public appearances of senior leaders as part of a vast propaganda effort controlled by the ruling Communist Party. "It's so nice when things are spontaneous and true!" said another user. (AFP) SAI 02071819 NNNN