Article: Sarko's shortlist; He packs stage with tiny staff to look tall himself.(News)

Byline: From Peter Allen In Paris

IT'S hard work looking like an imposing statesman when you're only 5ft 5in tall.

Nicolas Sarkozy has resorted to standing on a box and even rising on to his tiptoes to disguise his height - or rather the lack of it.

But for a televised speech at a major industrial plant, the French President and his aides were taking no chances.

They found 20 of the site's shortest workers to stand behind Mr Sarkozy as he delivered the keynote address.

They were bussed in from all over the Faurecia motor technology plant near Caen in Normandy after aides made sure none exceeded Mr Sarkozy's 5ft 5in.

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