China's Communist Party sacks senior leader: Xinhua

Bangkokpost, March 15, 2012  - Bo Xilai, the charismatic but controversial Communist Party leader of China's Chongqing metropolis, has been removed from his post, the state news agency Xinhua said on Thursday.

In this photo, taken on March 14, Chongqing Party Secretary Bo Xilai is seen yawning during the closing ceremony of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Bo, the charismatic but controversial Party leader of Chongqing metropolis, has been removed from his post, according to the state news agency Xinhua.

The move, which comes ahead of a major leadership transition in China's ruling party later this year, follows weeks of intense speculation about Bo's future after a key aide reportedly tried to defect to the United States.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/284466/senior-chinese-leader-sacked-in-rare-scandal