Wall posters appeared in central Peking on Thursday and Friday (6 and 7 January) openly demanding the return of purged Vice-Premier Teng Hsiao-Ping, once the most powerful man in China after Chairman Man Tse-Tung.

SYNOPSIS: Hundreds of people gathered along the Avenue of Eternal Tranquillity to watch men painting the posters. The slogans also praised the late Premier Chou En Lai who died a year ago. They also accused the purged radical "gang of four" of involvement in last April's Tien An Men riots. The riots erupted after Peking authorities cleared away wreaths to Chou En Lai. On that day 100,000 chanting demonstrators beat up leftist students and set fire to vehicles and buildings. The media blamed the riots on the followers of Mr. Teng who soon afterwards was sacked. The posters, carrying a "poem to comrade Hsiao-Ping" said everyone supported Mr. Teng.

The poster painting was the strongest display of open support so far for Mr. Teng. It was not clear whether the notices were officially sanctioned.

But police and armed troops standing nearby made no attempt to disperse the crowd. Hundreds gathered in freezing weather to read by the light of torches. Meanwhile, thousands of other people have been preparing for the lavish anniversary ceremonies marking the first anniversary of the death of Chou En Lai.