Chinese Communist Party Confirms Expulsion Of Bo Xilai

Former Chongqing Municipality Communist Party Secretary Bo Xilai and his wife, Gu Kailai, in a photo from 2007.

China's Communist Party has expelled former senior politician Bo Xilai, paving the way for his criminal prosecution on charges including covering up his wife's alleged murder of a British businessman.

The decision was made at a closed-door meeting of the party's Central Committee, which was the last before a crucial party congress opens on November 8 at which party head Hu Jintao is expected to hand over power to Vice President Xi Jinping.

The Central Committee also expelled former railways head Liu Zhijun, who was fired in 2011 for "serious disciplinary violations."

The four-day Central Committee meeting ended on November 4.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP