Bo expelled as party cleans up for handover

The Communist elite has endorsed the expulsion of politician Bo Xilai (EPA)

The ruling Communist elite has endorsed the expulsion of the disgraced politician Bo Xilai and approved final preparations for the party's forthcoming Congress.

The closed-door meeting of the Central Committee, which ended today, was the last before the Communist leader and President, Hu Jintao, and his government begin to cede power to Vice-President Xi Jinping and others at the Congress, which opens on Thursday.

Mr Bo, the former Mayor of Chongqing, is accused of misdeeds including covering up his wife's murder of Neil Heywood, a British businessman. A former Rail Minister, Liu Zhijun, was also expelled and is expected to face a corruption trial for "serious disciplinary violations".

AP