Myanmar welcomes Obama with graffiti

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - When Mr Arker Kyaw heard United States President Barack Obama was coming to Myanmar, he gathered 15 cans of spray paint and headed for a blank brick wall under cover of darkness.

Mr Kyaw, whose passion is graffiti, laboured from 3am until the sun came up. Passing taxi drivers and the occasional pedestrian gave him signs of encouragement as Mr Obama's grinning, uplifted face took shape against a background of the American and Myanmar flags.

"I wanted to welcome him," said Mr Kyaw, a 19-year-old with a sweep of styled hair and a penchant for skinny jeans.

The next day, someone - a rival graffiti artist, suspects Mr Kyaw - scribbled over his handiwork with a can of black spray paint.But he is already dreaming up another wall painting of the president, a shout out from the youth of Myanmar, whom he hopes Mr Obama will glimpse during his six-hour visit to the country, the first by any US president.