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Summary China has blocked New York Times website after publication of article against Premier Wen Jiabao.
The article claimed that family of Wen Jiabao had amassed assets worth $2.7 billion through a web of investments.The report said most of Wens familys wealth was accumulated after he rose to high office in 2002.Chinese censors also blocked the Times Chinese-language site that carried a translated version of the story.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters at a press briefing that the report blackens China and has ulterior motives. He refused to elaborate despite several follow-up questions.Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy says the paper hoped access to the sites could be restored shortly.While Wen is expected to leave his post in the spring, the report is a blow to his reputation as a politician concerned with bettering the lives of ordinary Chinese.
