Pasadena, Thursday

POP superstar Michael Jackson emerged from seclusion last night to

deny child abuse allegations and proclaim that ''the truth will be my

salvation''.

In his first public appearance since his nationally televised

statement on December 22, Jackson told a wildly cheering crowd at an

awards ceremony in Pasadena that ''not only am I presumed to be

innocent, I am innocent''.

''Everyone is presumed to be totally innocent until they are charged

with a crime and then convicted by a jury of their peers,'' Jackson told

an awards ceremony of the National Association for the Advancement of

Coloured People.

Jackson, wearing a blue-gold outfit with epaulettes, was interrupted

several times by thunderous applause and received a standing ovation.

Praising the NAACP for seeking justice, Jackson said none of its goals

meant more to him now than the presumption of innocence for the accused.

''I never really took the time to understand the importance of that

ideal until now, until I became the victim of false allegations and the

willingness of others to exploit the worst until they have had a chance

to hear the truth.

''I know that the truth will be my salvation,'' he declared before

presenting entertainer Debbie Allen with her choreography award.

In Los Angeles, a lawyer for the 13-year-old boy who has accused

Jackson of molesting him has asked a court to order the singer to submit

to a second body search for photographs of his genitals to be taken. The

boy says he can identify marks on Jackson's private parts.--Reuter.