China's Bo Xilai 'expelled from party to face charges'

 

Bo Xilai (C) with convicted wife Gu Kailai and son Bo Guagua

Top Chinese politician Bo Xilai is to be expelled from the Communist Party and will face prosecution, state media have said.

Mr Bo was the former Communist Party leader in the city of Chongqing.
His wife, Gu Kailai, was convicted in August of killing UK national Neil Heywood and given a suspended death sentence.
Mr Bo has not been seen in public since the scandal erupted and was said to be under investigation.
Mr Bo was suspended from his party posts in April.
The state media, Xinhua, said Mr Bo would face charges relating to alleged corruption, abuse of power, bribetaking and improper relations with women, Associated Press reported.
In addition to the sentence passed on Gu Kailai, former police chief Wang Lijun has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for ''bending the law, defection, abuse of power and bribetaking".
Xinhua has also announced the party congress that will herald a once-in-a-decade change of China's leadership will begin on 8 November.